Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17) — Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said the Philippines and China must have a formal agreement before conducting a joint exploration in the disputed South China Sea.

This came after Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Friday that the two countries, which are contending over parts of the South China Sea, are “aggressively” pursuing the exploration to find oil and gas reserves.

Read: PH aggressively pursuing joint oil and gas exploration with China

“The word ‘aggressively’ definitely was not new, but I think that only means they’re in a hurry,” Batongbacal told CNN Philippines “News Night” on Friday.

“But one thing is certain,” he added. “In order for this to even happen, there should first be a formal agreement or treaty between the two countries.”

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