Aquino Open to China Sea Oil Deal Separate From Territory Spat
"Philippine President Benigno Aquino said he’s open to an agreement with China that would allow companies to exploit oil and gas resources while the governments separately resolve South China Sea border disputes.
Aquino said his administration may split the issues to “have a political discussion on one side” and “have commercial issues on another side,” speaking in a May 4 interview at Malacanang Palace in Manila. “So long as our sovereignty is respected, we are open to partner with them.”
The U.S. ally has resisted joint exploration in some offshore areas claimed by China, increasing tensions as the countries compete for energy resources. The exploration unit of Philex Mining Corp. (PX), the Philippines’s biggest metals producer, last month said the dispute will probably delay plans to exploit what may be the country’s biggest gas field".
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...tory-spat.html
