Underwater flag-raising in the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) on Independence Day. PHOTO from The Extra Mile Productions
The Philippine Rise has a “geostrategic importance” to China in its quest to establish itself as a regional hegemon, a prospect that has alarmed security analysts after the Duterte administration allowed Beijing to conduct a marine research in the region.
“This is not Chinese benevolence being given to us. We have to start exposing that,” Francisco Ashley Acedillo, president of the Institute of Policy, Strategy and Developmental Studies Inc., told the Inquirer.
Acedillo and Prof. Chester Cabalza said that the Philippine Rise is part of China’s second-island chain and antiaccess area denial strategies to prevent the US military from showing its might in Asia.
“China’s newfound defense and economic confidence is near completion on its reenvisioned maritime power. Understandably, Benham Rise (the old name of Philippine Rise) matters to China’s quest for maritime expansion. —Nikko Dizon