China and Philippines Resume Energy Talks Amid Naval Patrolled

The Government of China and the Philippines resumed high-level diplomatic discussions on March 27 and 28 in Quanzhou, China, marking the first time since 2022 that the two nations have explored joint oil and gas projects in the South China Sea. Led by Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, the 11th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism and 24th Foreign Ministry Consultations focused on stabilizing bilateral relations and securing energy and fertilizer supplies. These talks followed a March 24 declaration of a national energy emergency by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. due to conflict in the Middle East.

Despite the diplomatic outreach, the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command deployed naval and air units to conduct readiness patrols around the Scarborough Shoal on March 29. China claims the shoal as its own territory, while the Philippines maintains it is within its exclusive economic zone. The military described these maneuvers—which include tracking, monitoring, and expelling operations—as necessary countermeasures to provocative acts.

Throughout the consultations, the Philippines reiterated its adherence to the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, while raising alarms over the safety of Filipino fishermen. In response, Beijing lodged a formal protest against alleged Philippine maritime infringements. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a South China Sea code of conduct despite the concurrent military activity.