FILIPINOS have the sole right to do scientific research at the Philippine Rise, Malacañang insisted Friday, amid concerns raised by an opposition lawmaker over the supposed approval by the Department of Foreign Affairs on a scientific research trip of Chinese nationals in the newly-awarded Philippine territory.
“As of now, it should be sole exploration by the Philippines as part of its sovereign rights,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said in a news briefing in Valencia City, Bukidnon.
While it is covered by sovereign rights, “which is exclusive in nature” to the Philippines—other countries may try to explore it if “the Philippines agrees to joint explorations,” Roque said.
On Friday, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano blasted the DFA for supposedly approving the request for Chinese nationals to conduct marine scientific research in Philippine waters, including Benham Rise.
Citing “information,” Alejano said the research would be conducted by the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences), and that the DFA rejected a request from a France-based organization to hold its own research in the same general area.
“We should be careful and prudent in granting any access to our waters especially with China that is claiming 80 percent exclusive economic zone at the West Philippine Sea through ‘9-dash line’,” Alejano said.
Alejano told the Department of Foreign Affairs to categorically state if it had approved the Chinese request, saying he had received information that approved the request of IO-CAS for a marine scientific research in Philippine waters.
“As a requirement, they will be joined by the University of the Philippines—Marine Science Institute [UP-MSI]. The project’s area will cover Eastern Luzon, where Benham Rise is, and Eastern Mindanao,” he said.
Alejano said the government recently rejeted the request of the French-based non-profit organization, Tara Expeditions Foundation, to conduct marine research in the waters east of the Philippines, including Benham Rise, the area where the Chinese intends to conduct their study in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.
“Provided that we need additional resources and capabilities to study and explore our eastern waters, particularly the Benham Rise, the French-based non-profit organization is way preferable than a Chinese national scientific think tank,” Alejano, a resigned Marine officer, said.
He said the Philippines had no territorial conflict with France; while China was aggressive in claiming territories belonging to other countries.
“Geographically speaking, France is not an immediate security threat to us compared to China,” Alejano said.
“If in terms of the capability of Tara, I think it is also safe to assume that it is competent as much as IO-CAS, having already accomplished high-level scientific research missions across the world’s oceans,” he added.
China has been seeking a permit to conduct research in Benham Rise since 2015, but alll of its requests were rejected owing to its refusal to involve Filipino experts in its study.
“China has been adamant on exploring Benham Rise and they have no intention of involving Filipino scientists. It seems that China was only forced to collaborate with UP-MIS for the sake of getting the permit. Given this initial behavior, we should be worried on whether the Philippines will be given equal access to all information culled by the joint project,” Alejano said.
“So why China? All things considered, allowing a Chinese national think tank to conduct a so-called scientific research over Philippine waters, even with participation of Filipinos, is careless and absurd. What is really the intention of the Duterte administration in allowing such activity at the expense of our national security?” Alejano asked.
Chinese vessels were reportedly spotted surveying Benham Rise for three months in 2016 without the knowledge and permission of DFA.
It turned out later that Duterte gave them the authority without his officials and the Filipino people knowing it, Alejano said.
Benham Rise was declared part of the Philippines’ continental shelf awarded by the United Nations in 2012.
The UN ruling provided that the country had the exclusive sovereign rights over it as the area is believed to be rich in minerals and gas.
Benham Rise is a 13-million hectare undersea region that lies east of Luzon and off the provinces of Isabela and Aurora and is believed to be a rich source of natural gas and other resources like heavy metals.
The Philippines’ claim over Philippine Rise was embodied in Archipelagic Baselines Law.
