China will not and will never dispute the Philippines’ rights over the Benham Rise continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the nation’s shore. The Chinese Foreign Ministry gave this assurance in the wake of a controversy arising from the reports that Chinese vessels were spotted at Benham Rise allegedly to conduct marine research. Hua said Chine recognized that the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has approved the submission made by the Philippines in 2009 in respect to the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

Benham Rise is ours. (2017, March 26). Manila Bulletin, pp.1, 14.