DFA OK’d China maritime research in Benham Rise, solon claims

The Department of Foreign Affairs has reportedly granted the request of a Chinese entity to do research in waters off eastern Luzon, where the Benham Rise is located, and eastern Mindanao, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano said on Friday.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Alejano said he has received information that the DFA approved the request of the Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO-CAS) for a marine scientific research (MSR) in Philippine waters.

Alejano said the Chinese research group will be joined by a team from the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) to comply with a government requirement.

“We should be careful and prudent in granting any access to our waters especially with China who is known to claim 80 percent of our EEZ in South China Sea through its expansive nine-dash line,” Alejano said.

Benham Rise located east of Luzon is part of the Philippines’ continental shelf. The United Nations in 2012 gave the country exclusive sovereign rights over the rise, believed to be rich in minerals and gas.

Chinese vessels were spotted surveying the Benham Rise in 2017, prompting the Philippine government to send Beijing a note verbale, seeking clarification as regards the presence of its ships in the resource-rich area.

Alejano said there was a similar request from a French-based non-profit organization, Tara Expeditions Foundation, to conduct research in the general area where the Chinese will be conducting MSR.

The French request was declined, Alejano claimed.

“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 said.

"The Philippines has no territorial conflict with France, vis-à-vis China which has shown aggression and great interest on our territories. Geographically speaking, France is not an immediate security threat to us compared to China,” he added.

Alejano was a junior officer in the Philippine Marines.

“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,” Alejano said.

Sought for comment, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said,“There’s nothing suspicious about approval or disapproval of scientific research whether they’re Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Mongolians, etc."

"If they  comply (with the requirements), we will approve. If they do not comply, we will not approve," Cayetano said.

"We have the same rules for all the countries. We have to follow the law. Philippine law says research can be done as along as there is a Filipino on board," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there was nothing wrong with the Chinese research if the DFA granted the request.

“That’s legal if we consented,” Roque said in a text message to reporters.

Alejano said China has sought several times for a permit to conduct research in Benham Rise since 2015, "but all were rejected because of denial of involvement of Filipino experts, according to DFA’s Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office."

“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?” he added. —with Trisha Macas and Michaela Del Callar/NB, GMA News