DFA sent letter to Chinese embassy on the presence of Chinese ships at Benham Rise

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday send a letter to the Chinese embassy to clarify the reported incursion f Chinese ships at Benham Rise, which has been declared part of the country’s exclusive economic zone. (Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs Republic of the Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday send a letter to the Chinese embassy to clarify the reported incursion f Chinese ships at Benham Rise, which has been declared part of the country’s exclusive economic zone.

DFA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said that the agency sent a note to the embassy of China to seek clarification on this reported incursion into the country’s territorial waters.

“The Philippines has expressed concern about the reported presence of Chinese ship in Benham Rise, which has been recognized by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as Philippine waters,” Jose said in a text message to reporters covering DFA.

The presence of Chinese ships in the area which has been recognized by the United Nations as part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines is a big surprise. Benham Rise is located at the eastern part of the Philippines near Aurora province.

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