Philippines Ambassador to China: Manila Taking 'Baby Steps' Toward Stable Relations; Joint South China Sea Energy Exploration Under Discussion as Both Nations Pursue 'Incremental' Diplomatic Track

The Philippines' ambassador to Beijing told the South China Morning Post in an exclusive interview published around April 24, 2026 that Manila and Beijing are taking 'baby steps' toward more stable bilateral relations — pursuing incremental engagement on areas of shared interest rather than attempting large-scale breakthrough diplomacy on the intractable South China Sea dispute. The ambassador emphasized building 'a relationship that is stable, that is predictable, that is not subject to jerks and ups and downs' — language that reflects Marcos administration's dual-track approach: maintaining assertive maritime posture in the West Philippine Sea while preserving diplomatic channels. The ambassador indicated both sides have opened 'initial exchanges' on South China Sea energy cooperation — a reference to the discussions that began at the March 27-28, 2026 Bilateral Consultative Mechanism and Foreign Ministers' Consultation (BCM/FMC) talks in Quanzhou. Joint oil and gas exploration in the western section of the Philippines' EEZ remains on the table despite the Philippines' constitutional 60% Filipino ownership requirement, which critically complicates any joint venture structure. The 'baby steps' framing is notable for its contrast with the concurrent military posture: Balikatan 2026 (Day 5, April 24) continues with 17,500+ troops from 7 nations — the largest-ever Philippine-US exercise — while China has a floating barrier blocking Scarborough Shoal and the Type 076 Sichuan drone carrier in South China Sea sea trials. The Philippines also faces an acute energy shortage partly exacerbated by the Iran-related Middle East conflict disrupting energy supply chains, creating economic pressure to pursue the SCS energy cooperation dialogue. The Ambassador's interview represents the clearest public signal from the Marcos administration that Manila is seeking a managed coexistence framework alongside its assertive military alliance-building: neither appeasement (as under Duterte) nor pure confrontation.