PHILIPPINE-CHINA JOINT EXPLORATION DEVELOPMENT: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE BANGSAMORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS OF PARANG MAGUINDANAO

The pursuance of the Philippine-China Joint Exploration Development in the vast waters of the South China Sea posits a massive nationalist sentiment. The purpose of this study is to bring the context of the South China Sea issue to the sub-national sphere and aspire to know and understand the perception of sub-national leaders, specifically the Bangsamoro Local Government Unit of Parang Leaders of Parang. And assess how this pursued Joint Exploration Development foreign policy of the Duterte administration affects their support to the administration.

This study is a qualitative type of research. And the method used for gathering data is Key Informant Interviews and Archival Research. This research utilizes thematic analysis for analyzing in-depth interviews and content analysis for accumulated data through Archival Research.

The study found that the Philippines and China have existing Joint Developmental initiatives in in Mindanao. The Bangsamoro Local Government Unit of Parang leaders Disagreed with the Joint Exploration Development of the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. And they perceived to reconsider the pursuance of the exploration. Finally, the administration's approach in dealing with the issue in the South China Sea, the prospect of an eventual Joint Exploration with Beijing, dented the administrative support of the Bangsamoro Local Government of Parang leaders for the Duterte administration.