The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) held a meeting with the Chinese Embassy in Manila, photos of which were shared by News5 on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The meeting comes amid the national energy emergency and growing signals from both Manila and Beijing of openness to resuming joint oil and gas exploration talks in the South China Sea — a striking development given the very public and bitter clashes between Philippine officials and the same Chinese Embassy just weeks earlier.
Context: Philippines-China Energy Talks
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on March 24 that the ongoing global energy crisis — triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — could serve as an "impetus" for the Philippines and China to finally reach an agreement on joint exploration in the South China Sea. China responded, with its embassy saying the "door to dialogue" remains open, but that the Philippines must first "demonstrate sincerity."
Separate Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations and the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea were also held in Quanzhou, Fujian province, China on March 27 to 28, 2026.
The Irony: Earlier Clashes With the Same Chinese Embassy
The DOE-Chinese Embassy meeting is notable because it comes just weeks after some of the most vocal Philippine officials publicly clashed with the very same embassy over its interference in Philippine affairs.
Senator Risa Hontiveros called the Chinese Embassy a "bad guest" in January 2026, saying: "Freedom of speech is not a license for a representative of a foreign country to interfere, intimidate and disrespect Filipinos here… Foreign missions are guests, not arbiters of our democracy." She also accused the embassy of violating Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits foreign envoys from interfering in the host state's internal affairs. When the Chinese Ambassador later sought a meeting, Hontiveros refused, saying: "If you say something wrong, don't skip the step of acknowledging what you said wrong, apologize, start making amends before you invite us in a meeting."
Senator Erwin Tulfo delivered one of the harshest statements, saying: "To the Chinese embassy officials: You do not have the moral authority to lecture Filipinos about freedom of speech — because freedom of speech does not exist in your country. It is not practiced. It is not protected. It is punished." He added: "If you do not like how democracy works in this country, then you are free to leave the Philippines." Tulfo also pushed for a Senate resolution urging Malacañang to declare Chinese diplomats persona non grata.
Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard's spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, called the Chinese Embassy's statements "brazen" and a "blatant disrespect against Philippine elected officials in our own soil." The Chinese Embassy had targeted Tarriela specifically, publishing at least 15 separate Facebook posts attacking him in just the first three weeks of 2026, accusing him of lying and smearing China.
Sovereignty and Constitutional Concerns
Any joint exploration deal with China in the South China Sea carries significant legal and sovereignty implications. The Philippine Constitution requires that natural resource exploration remain under state control and be undertaken by Filipino citizens or corporations with at least 60% Filipino ownership. The Supreme Court also nullified a similar joint marine seismic undertaking with China and Vietnam in 2023, ruling it unconstitutional.
The West Philippine Sea — which overlaps with China's claimed territory in the South China Sea — is estimated to contain 12,158 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 6,203 million barrels of oil reserves.
Public Reaction
The DOE-Chinese Embassy meeting drew significant public attention online, with many Filipinos expressing concern that the energy crisis is being used as leverage by China to push for a joint exploration agreement that could compromise Philippine sovereignty. The contrast with earlier statements from Hontiveros, Tulfo, and Tarriela was not lost on many observers.
Sources: News5 / Rappler / GMA News / Manila Bulletin / Inquirer / Philstar / Politiko
