Philippines seeks to rename marine zone

MANILA: The Philippines said it is planning to change the name of a stretch of water east of the country in a bid to highlight its sovereignty over the area, which was surveyed recently by a Chinese vessel.

A Chinese survey ship was tracked for several months late last year moving around Benham Rise, declared part of the Philippines’ continental shelf in 2012 by the United Nations, stirring concern about Beijing’s possible intentions.

China says the ship was simply passing through the area and was not engaged in any other activity, and the country’s foreign minister said last week that China fully respects the Philippines’ maritime area rights over Benham Rise.

Manila said it wanted to rename the area, which is roughly the size of Greece and believed by some scientists to be rich in biodiversity and tuna, “Philippine Rise”.

“A motion has been made subject to the conduct of the requisite legal and logistical study to effect the change,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the navy to put up “structures” in Benham Rise to assert sovereignty over the area. — Reuters