Chinese research ships spotted in Benham Rise now out of PH’s EEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The two Chinese research vessels seen in the Benham Rise are now out of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a Philippine Navy official said Monday.

Research ships Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao and Haiyang Dizhi Liuhao were spotted 800 nautical miles east of Casiguran, Aurora as of Sunday, March 3, according to Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Trinidad said these vessels were from Guangzhou and were en route to the southeast portion of the Pacific Ocean.

“So nakita sa track, tuloy-tuloy naman siya and as of yesterday, nakalabas naman ito sa ating exclusive economic zone,” he said over dwPM.

(So it was seen on the track that it’s sailing continuously, and as of yesterday, it was out of our exclusive economic zone.)

Trinidad also said there is nothing to be worried about this sighting, noting that this could fall under the freedom of navigation.

“’Yung pagdaan ng dalawa nga, research vessels na ‘yun, is not, nothing to be worried about,” Trinidad said.

(The passage of the two, those are research vessels, is not, nothing to be worried about.)

“Lahat naman ng barko ay may, pwede naman dumaan under the concept of freedom of navigation sa EEZ ng ibang bansa,” he added.

(All ships have, can pass under the concept of freedom of navigation in the EEZ of other countries.)

The 24-million-hectare undersea feature is part of the Philippine continental shelf and is inside the country’s EEZ.

According to Article 57 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country has sovereign rights over its own EEZ, but other nations could still enjoy non-economic uses in other states’ EEZ such as freedom of navigation as well as the right of overflight.

In response to the presence of Chinese ships in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed one of its biggest vessels – BRP Gabriela Silang – to the northeast corner of Benham Rise, which is a resource-rich submerged landmass.