(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has already sent a note verbale to the Chinese Embassy on the alleged presence of Chinese survey ships in Benham Rise, a 13-million hectare underwater plateau that had been recognized internationally as part of the country’s continental shelf.
DFA Assistant Secretary Charles Jose told reporters that “the Philippines has sent a note to the Chinese Embassy seeking clarification on this.”
Benham Rise is a 13-million-hectare underwater plateau, located near Aurora which was declared by the United Nations (UN) as part of the Philipines’ continental shelf and territory.
“The Philippines has expressed concern about the reported presence of Chinese ship in Benham Rise, which has been recognized by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as Philippine waters,” Jose said in a text message to reporters covering DFA.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Chinese survey ships were spotted in the area last year, and was “monitored for three months.”
Jose said this note verbale was the first communication sent to China by the Philippine government regarding this.
The Department of National Defense said that it will drive away any foreign service ship from the area.
“We have ordered the Navy if they will see this service ship this year, start to drive them away from the eastern side of the Philippines,” Lorenzana said.
After the UN recognized the country’s claim on Benham Rise in April 2012, the country’s territory has increase to 43 million hectares from the previous 30 million hectares.
