MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy has deployed one of its three warships to Benham Rise. “The Navy will henceforth regularly patrol Benham Rise partly due to past Chinese activities there but more importantly because it is part of our continental shelf,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters. Lorenzana said the Navy would deploy the BRP Gregorio Velasquez to conduct a survey of Benham Rise. Lorenzana earlier revealed a Chinese survey ship was spotted off Benham Rise for three months last year. China said on Thursday it fully respects the Philippines’ rights over the continental shelf in Benham Rise.

Source: Philippine Star March 24, 2017 16:42 UTC