Philippines says willing to share South China Sea

Manila (Philippines) (AFP) – The Philippines is willing to share natural resources with Beijing in contested South China Sea areas even if it wins a legal challenge next week, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay told AFP Friday.

Yasay said President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration hoped to quickly begin direct talks with China following Tuesday’s verdict, with the negotiations to cover jointly exploiting the sea’s natural gas reserves and fishing grounds within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.