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Castro: Chinese presence in Benham Rise 'deeply troubling'

Philippines | National

Castro: Chinese presence in Benham Rise 'deeply troubling'

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

House Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro has described as "deeply troubling" the reported presence of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise, officially known as the Philippine Rise, over the weekend.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (Facebook)

A Makabayan lawmaker has described as "deeply troubling" the reported presence of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise, officially known as the Philippine Rise, over the weekend.

House Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro strongly condemned in a statement Monday, March 4 the reported "Chinese intrusion".

"The presence of two Chinese research vessels loitering around Benham Rise, as reported by an American maritime security analyst, raises serious concerns about our national sovereignty and maritime rights," Castro said.

"The information provided by former United States Air Force official Ray Powell, who identified the vessels as Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Shihao, is deeply troubling," added the militant solon.

Benham Rise, officially designated as a "protected food supply exclusive zone," is a resource-rich area that holds significant importance for the Philippines. It is located east of Luzon.

While Chinese maritime intrusions are often observed in the disputed South China Sea, the presence of Chinese vessels in the northeastern part of the Philippines is a clear violation of our sovereignty, Castro said.

She notes that the objective of these vessels is yet to be verified, and it is crucial for the Philippine authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into such activities.

Related Tags

Benham Rise FRANCE CASTRO

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