10.5 C
Athens
Σάββατο, 23 Νοεμβρίου, 2024

Philippine SC voids oil exploration agreement with China and Vietnam

Περισσότερα Νέα

- Advertisement -

Philippines’ apex court has declared unconstitutional an agreement on oil exploration in the South China Sea concluded in 2005 by the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, The Philippine Star newspaper reported.

The report said that the court decision went against the deal state-owned companies from the three nations signed the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JSMU), which allowed them to jointly explore for oil near waters surrounding the disputed Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea.

“The court ruled that the JSMU is unconstitutional for allowing wholly-owned foreign corporations to participate in the exploration of the country’s natural resources without observing the safeguards provided in Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution,” the court said in a statement, as quoted by English-language newspaper The Philippine Star.

Citing a constitutional provision, the court said all lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the State.

“The exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State,” the provision read.

- Advertisement -

According to the top court, the case stemmed from the original action for prohibition assailing the constitutionality of the JMSU filed by petitioners from opposition parties. They took the case to court, saying the project, which expired in 2008, was unconstitutional as the Constitution does not allow foreign entities to explore natural resources.

Former Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate called the ruling a win for Philippine sovereignty.

“A WIN for our country’s sovereignty! @BayanMuna filed this petition as far back as 2008 as China has been using JMSU as cover in its unbridled exploration and incursion in our territory, particularly in the West Philippine Sea,” he tweeted.

The Court, noting that the term “exploration” pertains to a search or discovery of something in both its ordinary or technical sense, ruled that the JMSU involves the exploration of the country”s natural resources, particularly petroleum.

The Philippine Supreme Court released its decision as China sought to revive an oil exploration deal with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed readiness to seek petroleum and natural gas development in non-disputed waters by resuming negotiations when he met with the Philippine President last week.

- Advertisement -

ΑΠΑΝΤΗΣΤΕ

εισάγετε το σχόλιό σας!
παρακαλώ εισάγετε το όνομά σας εδώ

The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Ροή ειδήσεων

ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ

Fatwa against VPNs: A threat to digital freedom in Pakistan

In a rapidly evolving digital world, where technology is increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives, the internet is often viewed as a...

Strikes and protests increase in China due to unpaid wages and factory closures

Strikes and protests by labourers and industry workers have seen arise in China where such incidences are strictly forbidden. The majority of the protests...

Pakistan: HRCP demands reversal of Anti-Terrorism Act amendment proposal, warns of threats to democracy

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) concluded its 38th Annual General Meeting with a stern call for urgent action to address Pakistan’s worsening...

China’s space ambitions face ‘huge test’ from Musk presence in Trump White House

Tech mogul Elon Musk's potential weight in the second Donald Trump administration is likely to accelerate the US space programme and pose a "huge test" to China's extraterrestrial...

ΔΗΜΟΦΙΛΗ ΑΡΘΡΑ

Φέτβα κατά των VPN: Μια απειλή για την ψηφιακή ελευθερία στο Πακιστάν

Σε έναν ταχέως εξελισσόμενο ψηφιακό κόσμο, όπου η τεχνολογία ενσωματώνεται ολοένα και περισσότερο σε κάθε πτυχή της ζωής μας, το Διαδίκτυο θεωρείται συχνά ως...

Fatwa against VPNs: A threat to digital freedom in Pakistan

In a rapidly evolving digital world, where technology is increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives, the internet is often viewed as a...

Σε κίνδυνο τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα στο Πακιστάν

Η Επιτροπή Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων του Πακιστάν (HRCP) ολοκλήρωσε την 38η Ετήσια Γενική Συνέλευση με μια αυστηρή έκκληση για επείγουσα δράση για την αντιμετώπιση της...

Οι απεργίες και οι διαδηλώσεις αυξάνονται στην Κίνα λόγω των απλήρωτων μισθών και του κλεισίματος των εργοστασίων

Απεργίες και διαμαρτυρίες από εργάτες και εργάτες της βιομηχανίας έχουν εμφανιστεί στην Κίνα όπου τέτοια περιστατικά απαγορεύονται αυστηρά. Η πλειονότητα των διαμαρτυριών διεξήχθη πριν...