A week after President Duterte ordered foreign research teams to leave the Philippine Rise, Malacañang has strongly objected China’s naming of five underwater features in the said area. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after it was reported thatChina successfully named five undersea features within the region. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) approved this week the names proposed by China for the five features in the Philippine Rise region.

Geducos, A. C. B., & Mabasa, R. C. (2018, February 15). Gov’t objects to China’s naming of PH Rise underwater features. Manila Bulletin, p. 4.