MANILA, Philippines — Beijing clarified that it fully respects the Philippines' rights over the continental shelf in Benham Rise following reports about Chinese survey ships cruising near the region. "I wish to reiterate that China fully respects the Philippines' rights over the continental shelf in the 'Benham Rise' and there is no such thing of China challenging those rights," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press briefing Tuesday. Hua stressed that under international law, China can enjoy freedom of navigation in the region. READ: China: Philippines can't claim Benham RiseIn 2012, the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf approved the submission of the Philippines with respect to the limits of its continental shelf in the Benham Rise region. A large part of the Benham Rise is within the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.

Source: Philippine Star March 15, 2017 03:56 UTC