Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said that there is nothing to worry about China’s move naming five underwater features in the Philippine Rise or Benham Rise under Chinese names.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco / MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview shortly after the holding of the 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Quezon City, Lorenzana said any country has the freedom to conduct surveys especially if its only part of scientific research and should not be considered as taking over the undersea features which is part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“Isipin niyo iyung mga islands diyan sa Spratlys iyung mga islands diyan may pangalan na Indonesia saka Chinese wala mamang problema eh diba? (Think about the islands there at Spratlys, some of the islands there are named in Indonesian and Chinese and there is no problem),” Lorenzana said.
“For as long as they respect our soverignity doon, kahit pangalanan pa nila ng kung ano yan basta wag sila makialam sa exploitation (there, even if they named it for as long as they will not take part in the exploitation).”
“We have nothing to do about that so our bilateral (relations) with China will continue. Free passes naman sila and its authorized under internationa law,” he added.
Lorenzana earlier said that he is pushng for the immediate naming of five undersea features in the Philippine Rise with Filipino names following China’s naming of five underwater features in the area.
In a text message, Lorenzana also said that he will discuss the matter with National Security Adviser (NSA) Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and other Cabinet members with regard to China’s latest actions.
He added that they intend to name the features as soon as possible.
“Pag-uusapan pa namin ni NSA at ibang (I will discuss this with NSA and) cabinet members. As for me, I would also give these features Philippine names,” Lorenzana said.
“Yes, of course. Remember that the Spratly features have Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino names,” he added.
The features reportedly named by China are the Jinghao, Tianbao, Haidonquing, and Jujiu Seamounts; and the Cuiqiao Hill. The Cuiqiao Hill and Jujiu Seamount that form the central peaks of the Philippine Rise undersea geological province itself.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippine Embassy in Beijing has already raised the government’s concern to China. The embassy is likewise considering a recommendation to officially notify the Chair of the International Hydrographic Organization – Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (IHO-IOC GEBCO) Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN).
“The Philippines, as many of you know, is not a member of the SCUFN, which is composed of 12 members. China’s proposals to rename some undersea features in the Philippine Rise were submitted to SCUFN during its meetings in Brazil on Oct 12-16, 2015 and Sept 19-23, 2017,” Roque said.
In an online report quoting maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal, the IHO approved the names proposed by China,, saying the three features were reported to have been “‘discovered’ during a 2004 survey by the Li Shiguang Hao of the China Navy Hydrographic Office,” which submitted the names for consideration by the IHO in 2014.
The two other features were also reportedly “discovered” by the same ship during the same survey. However, the name proposals were submitted by the China Ocean Minerals R&D Association in 2016.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/16/chinese-names-in-ph-rise-no-problem-says-dnd/
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