The defense chief also highlighted that it is China, not the Philippines, that continues to occupy disputed features such as Panganiban Reef (Mischief), which has been transformed into a Chinese‑controlled military‑civil installation in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands). Manila’s position is that these features and the surrounding waters fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, as affirmed by the 2016 tribunal.

Manila‑Beijing oil‑talk overtures now sit at the intersection of economics, law, and geopolitics, where any potential joint project will be scrutinized as much for its legal and sovereignty implications as for its promise of shared resources

The South China Sea remains a flashpoint of overlapping claims and growing militarization, Gill’s critique underscores a broader concern, without a demonstrable commitment to take the 2016 decision into account, Beijing’s repeated rhetorical emphasis on the “rule of law on the seas” may increasingly ring hollow in regional and global forums.

The 2016 victory remains a “paper win” in practical terms, it has bolstered the legal standing of Manila, Washington, and other claimants, but it has not re‑opened Panatag Shoal’s waters to Philippine fishermen or turned Recto Bank’s gas reserves into a functioning national resource.

MANILA, Philippines — The 1Sambayan coalition insists that any joint energy exploration with foreign states in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) must explicitly affirm Philippine ownership of the oil and gas resources there.

NSC warned that reef destruction might enable China to stage an "environmental crisis" and blame the Philippines, mirroring past accusations against BRP Sierra Madre to deflect from its activities.

Analysts warn the US focus on the Middle East could create an Indo-Pacific security vacuum, potentially allowing China to escalate in the WPS without strong deterrence. ⁹ However, Philippine-US joint activities, like sails near Scarborough Shoal, continue, and no heightened Chinese aggression tied to the war has been confirmed. ¹⁰ ¹¹ OFW safety in war-risk zones like the Strait of Hormuz adds indirect maritime concerns for Filipino seafarers.

Article by Monne Slyvia Published on March 20, 2026 04:36PM Filipino fisher from Subic, Zambales who regularly travels to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) shared that they are worried that rising fuel prices will further strain their livelihood, adding to the pressure they face from the presence of Chinese vessels in the area. Chinese vessels have long harassed Filipino fishermen in the WPS using loudspeakers for warnings, blocking access to fishing areas, and being shadowed by