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Chinese survey ship spotted in Benham Rise, says defense chief
Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Mar 09 2017 10:44 AM
Updated as of Mar 09 2017 06:18 PM
MANILA (2nd UPDATE) – China could be trying to explore Benham Rise, Philippines' defense chief said, in what could be another source of conflict between the Asian neighbors.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday that satellite photos and incident reports indicate that China had sent a ship to Benham Rise.
“One of the survey ships is also plying the Benham Rise already. Last year, it was monitored for about three months,” Lorenzana said in a forum.
“We started to look at some of the -- we still have some friends who give us satellite photos, [and] these ships were actually plying the Benham Rise north of the Philippines [up] to Surigao.”
Lorenzana said he has given instructions to the Navy that if the survey ship returns, "accost them and drive them away."
The defense chief said the reason for the alleged Chinese survey in Benham Rise has yet to be determined, but that he has read a report saying the Chinese could be looking for a spot to place submarines.
Lorenzana also cited a report that a Chinese ship figured in an accident while plying Benham Rise in the Pacific Ocean, prompting the Chinese to bring one of its men to a hospital in Surigao City.
“What happened in December was… that survey ship had an accident inside the ship when they were somewhere there in central Philippines, at the Pacific Ocean. What the ship did was go to Surigao City and unloaded one patient and left,” he said.
Lorenzana made this revelation as the Philippines and China try to renew ties strained by the South China Sea dispute.
Since assuming presidency last year, President Rodrigo Duterte has sought closer ties with China, choosing to downplay the arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines in exchange of reinvigorated economic ties.
The country's claim to Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare area located east of Luzon island believed to be gas-rich, was approved by the United Nations in 2012.
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Link -> http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/09/17/chinese-survey-ship-spotted-in-benham-rise-says-defense-chief
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Lorenzana: China showed interest in PH's Benham Rise
The Philippines will not allow Chinese ships to return to the area, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Carmela Fonbuena
@carmelafonbuena
Published 3:15 PM, March 09, 2017
Updated 3:15 PM, March 09, 201
MANILA, Philippines – China has also shown interest in Benham Rise in the Pacific Ocean, a Philippine territory located on the country's eastern border.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a Chinese survey ship was monitored plying the territory located off Aurora province for as long as 3 months last year.
"One of their survey ships [was] also plying the Benham Rise last year. It was monitored for 3 months," Lorenzana said in a forum on national security on Thursday, March 9.
But the Philippines will not allow Chinese ships to return to the area, according to the defense chief.
"I ordered the Navy that if they see this service ship this year, start to accost them and drive them away from the eastern side of the Philippines," Lorenzana said.
Benham Rise is a 13-million-hectare area – bigger than Luzon island – that the United Nations declared back in 2012 to be part of the Philippines' continental shelf and territory.
It is an underwater plateau that is rich in living and non-living resources like minerals and gas.
It is not part of China's 9-dash line claim, and no other country has claimed it.
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Link -> http://www.rappler.com/nation/163729-lorenzana-china-survey-ship-philippines-benham-rise
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Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Mar 09 2017 10:44 AM
Updated as of Mar 09 2017 06:18 PM
MANILA (2nd UPDATE) – China could be trying to explore Benham Rise, Philippines' defense chief said, in what could be another source of conflict between the Asian neighbors.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday that satellite photos and incident reports indicate that China had sent a ship to Benham Rise.
“One of the survey ships is also plying the Benham Rise already. Last year, it was monitored for about three months,” Lorenzana said in a forum.
“We started to look at some of the -- we still have some friends who give us satellite photos, [and] these ships were actually plying the Benham Rise north of the Philippines [up] to Surigao.”
Lorenzana said he has given instructions to the Navy that if the survey ship returns, "accost them and drive them away."
The defense chief said the reason for the alleged Chinese survey in Benham Rise has yet to be determined, but that he has read a report saying the Chinese could be looking for a spot to place submarines.
Lorenzana also cited a report that a Chinese ship figured in an accident while plying Benham Rise in the Pacific Ocean, prompting the Chinese to bring one of its men to a hospital in Surigao City.
“What happened in December was… that survey ship had an accident inside the ship when they were somewhere there in central Philippines, at the Pacific Ocean. What the ship did was go to Surigao City and unloaded one patient and left,” he said.
Lorenzana made this revelation as the Philippines and China try to renew ties strained by the South China Sea dispute.
Since assuming presidency last year, President Rodrigo Duterte has sought closer ties with China, choosing to downplay the arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines in exchange of reinvigorated economic ties.
The country's claim to Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare area located east of Luzon island believed to be gas-rich, was approved by the United Nations in 2012.
-----
Link -> http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/09/17/chinese-survey-ship-spotted-in-benham-rise-says-defense-chief
-----
================================================================================================================================================================================
Lorenzana: China showed interest in PH's Benham Rise
The Philippines will not allow Chinese ships to return to the area, says Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Carmela Fonbuena
@carmelafonbuena
Published 3:15 PM, March 09, 2017
Updated 3:15 PM, March 09, 201
MANILA, Philippines – China has also shown interest in Benham Rise in the Pacific Ocean, a Philippine territory located on the country's eastern border.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said a Chinese survey ship was monitored plying the territory located off Aurora province for as long as 3 months last year.
"One of their survey ships [was] also plying the Benham Rise last year. It was monitored for 3 months," Lorenzana said in a forum on national security on Thursday, March 9.
But the Philippines will not allow Chinese ships to return to the area, according to the defense chief.
"I ordered the Navy that if they see this service ship this year, start to accost them and drive them away from the eastern side of the Philippines," Lorenzana said.
Benham Rise is a 13-million-hectare area – bigger than Luzon island – that the United Nations declared back in 2012 to be part of the Philippines' continental shelf and territory.
It is an underwater plateau that is rich in living and non-living resources like minerals and gas.
It is not part of China's 9-dash line claim, and no other country has claimed it.
-----
Link -> http://www.rappler.com/nation/163729-lorenzana-china-survey-ship-philippines-benham-rise
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