The Philippines will contest the naming of five underwater features of the Philippine Rise (Benham Rise) by China, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said on Wednesday, as President Rodrigo Duterte warned of war over unauthorized expeditions to the area. Abella said the government raised its objection to the research activity of the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on February 13 during the second bilateral consultations with China, which also discussed the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute.

PH to contest naming of underwater features by China. (2018, March 1). The Manila Times, pp. A1-A2.