(Eagle News)– “Benham Rise is ours.”
President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated this on Friday, days after he ordered a stop to all maritime exploration by foreigners at the undersea plateau located off the country’s northeastern coast.
The President made the declaration upon conclusion of all foreign research studies in the area now called the Philippine Rise.
This included one carried out by China, which began last month.
According to the President, the Philippines would “claim exclusive ownership of the economic zones.”
“I’m putting notice to the world Benham Rise is ours and the economic zone is ours,” he said.
He emphasized, however, that it was also “not the time to fight with China over the South China Sea.”
“Because it will lead to war,” he said.
Relations with China have improved since Duterte assumed the presidency.
Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, employed a hardline stance in dealing with China and its claims on vast parts of the South China Sea.
He filed a complaint before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which ruled in the Philippines’ favor two years ago in the territorial dispute.
But Duterte has refused to employ the same stance, opting instead to use diplomatic channels to deal with the Asian giant.
China has also promised the Philippines millions of dollars worth of investments and trade.