CAGAYAN de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez today urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest against the reported presence of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise or Philippine Rise last weekend.
“The intrusion of Chinese survey ships into the Philippine Rise east of our country, which is inside our exclusive economic zone, is concerning. The government should lodge a protest with Beijing every time they trespass on our territory, whether in Benham Rise or the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
He said China is obviously surveying the undersea Philippine Rise because it is rich in marine and mineral resources.
“Gusto yata tayong unahan sa pag-survey at pag-explore ng lamang yaman ng dagat at ng seabed duon,” he said.
Larger than Luzon, the Benham Rise is believed to be rich mineral and natural gas deposits. It is also an important fishing ground for Filipinos and a marine biodiversity hotspot.
The government designated the area as a “protected food supply exclusive zone” in May 2017.
Rodriguez is a consistent critics of Chinese harassment and bullying of Filipino troops, personnel and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
He appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to raise with the country’s allies Chinese intrusions not only in the west but in the east as well of the Philippines.
He commended the President for telling the Australian parliament over the weekend that Beijing’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea like the deployment of Navy boats, were “worrisome.”
“It’s worrisome because there are two elements to that: one is that previously only China’s Coast Guard was moving in our area. Now, also its Navy and fishing boats. So, the situation is changing,” the President said.
The President is back in Australia for the Australia-Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit upon the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The presence of the two Chinese research ships in Benham Rise was reported by American maritime security analyst and former US Air Force official Ray Powell.
“As of 1 March they are loitering east of Luzon in the NE (northeast) corner of Benham (Philippine) Rise,” Powell said.
The two vessels were identified as Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao.
On Sunday, the Philippine Navy reported that the two ships have left the area, but that it would still conduct a verification flight.
During the Duterte administration, a Chinese research vessel, Jia Geng, intruded into the Philippine Rise at least twice.
metrosundaily
