The Philippines has declared a national energy emergency as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supply. The move shows just how vulnerable the country is. It has also done the unthinkable by forcing Manila to rethink its relationship with China.
No other country has acted this quickly, but few are as exposed. The Philippines imports almost all of its oil, mostly from the Middle East. As prices rise and supply risks grow, Manila is running out of options.
Explosive Declarations About China Deal
For the first time, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is openly suggesting that a deal with China could be part of a way out of the energy crisis. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on March 24, he suggested the disruption may open the door for Manila and Beijing to revisit joint oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea region of the South China Sea, an idea that was initially discussed in 2023.
“That’s something we’ve been
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