Marcos calls Chinese presence in Philippine Rise 'clear intrusion'The Philippine Rise, formerly known as the Benham Rise, is a seismically active undersea region and extinct volcanic ridge located in the eastern Philippine seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that the reported presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippine Rise constituted a “clear intrusion” into the country’s territory. Marcos called their presence a “great concern” and “unnecessary.”“If it is truly a research vessel, then we could have come to a very simple agreement that the research vessel will ply the waters and do the research,” the president said. Ray Powell, director of Sealight at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said last week that two Chinese research vessels were “loitering” northeast of Philippine Rise, formerly known as Benham Rise. In 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order renaming Benham Rise to Philippine Rise to emphasize the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area.

Source: Philippine Star March 07, 2024 02:18 UTC