No special treatment for China in Philippine Rise, Palace defends
THE GOVERNMENT has belied allegations by critics on Thursday, Feb. 8, that it gave special treatment to the People’s Republic of China on its request to conduct a maritime study on the Philippine Rise.
“The Philippine government gave no preferential treatment to China on its request to conduct maritime scientific research (MSR) at Philippine Rise and did not reject the French Tara Expedition Foundation on similar venture contrary to claims by a solon,” National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. said in a media statement.
He added: “China has submitted 18 MSR applications for Philippine Rise underwater exploratory mission but only two were granted.”
According to Mr. Esperon, aside from a French research group, “five other foreign countries including China have submitted applications to conduct marine scientific research at Philippine Rise and in the Luzon Strait Areas—United States, Japan, Korea and Germany.”
“The government granted China’s MSR at the Philippines Rise on a short duration venture without prejudice to the country’s territorial integrity contrary to insinuations by other sectors,” the national security adviser said.
“Of the five countries, the US has the most number of MSR request which the government granted all of its 13 applications; Japan has nine MSR, all of which were granted; Korea, four, all granted; except for Germany whose two MSR applications were denied.”
Last Tuesday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered that all scientific exploration in the Philippine Rise, also known as the Benham Rise, will now be exclusive to Filipino scientists.
Mr. Duterte revealed that he received a statement from another country that said it recognizes the sovereign rights of the Philippines over Philippine Rise.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said that Mr. Duterte was referring to China.
“It was publicly reported that [it was] China, while expressing somehow…[its] disappointment, [and] while acknowledging that we have put an end to the scientific research.” — Arjay L. Balinbin
