Rep. Castro, PBBM: Chinese vessels' Benham Rise presence a sovereignty concern

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro expressed concern over the reported presence of two Chinese research vessels in Benham Rise, also known as Philippine Rise.

Maritime security analyst Ray Powell identified the vessels, and Castro stated their presence is a serious concern for the Philippines' national sovereignty and maritime rights.

Benham Rise is a resource-rich underwater plateau located east of Luzon, designated as a protected food supply exclusive zone and part of the Philippines' continental shelf.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. called the sightings a "clear intrusion" into Philippine territory and raised suspicion that the vessels were not merely conducting research, describing the incident as "a bit of an escalation of the tension that is present in the West Philippines Sea."

He added that an agreement could have been made if the vessels were truly for research, suggesting that the ships might be engaged in activities beyond research.

The Philippine Navy reported that the two Chinese vessels were spotted "loitering" around the Benham Rise before they departed the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stated that the BRP Gabriela Silang will patrol the waters to conduct maritime domain awareness and monitor the area.