Duterte to military: Tell China in a friendly manner that Benham Rise is ours

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday directed the military to inform Chinese vessels surveying Benham Rise — in a friendly manner — that the Philippines owns the 13-million hectare undersea region and biodiversity hot spot located east of Luzon.

"My order to the military, tell them straight it's ours and say it in friendship," he said in a press conference in Malacañang.

Last week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza revealed that a Chinese service ship was detected surveying Benham Rise for about three months.

China, however, dismissed Lorenzana's concerns, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying its ships had every right of freedom of navigation in those waters, and its research ships did pass through seas northeast of Luzon last year.

The two countries are embroiled in a maritime dispute over parts of the South China Sea, but relations have warmed significantly since Duterte assumed office.

In 2009, the Philippines lodged a full territorial claim to Benham Rise with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. The claim was granted in 2012, with Benham Rise granted to the Philippines as an extension of the country's continental shelf, some 350 nautical miles from the nation's shore.

Lorenzana said the Benham Rise will be discussed during the National Security Council meeting in Malacañang on Monday night.

But Duterte expressed belief that the Chinese will not act aggressively in Benham Rise.

"They'll not do it at this time. Magugulo iyan. America wants to be the fighter. Pupunta mga barko barko doon. Ang Amerika naghihintay lang tayo magulo bakit akko gugulo doon. I cannot match the might of China," he said.

Lorenzana this weekend said more patrol ships will be deployed in the region. He added that a structure would be built on Benham Rise's plateau as a notice to foreigners that it is part of the Philippines' territory.

"We will do something there. We will increase our patrols at the same time siguro we will put something there na structure na this is ours," he said. —JST, GMA News