Palace: No bad faith seen in China's naming PH Rise features

Malacañang assured the public that there is no reason to be alarmed over China's move to name five underwater features in the Philippine Rise despite the Philippines's sovereign rights over the region.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement following reports that China has named five underwater features in the Philippine Rise, formerly Benham Rise, saying these were discovered by Chinese researchers over the past 20 years.

"No reason for alarm. Kinikilala nila ang ating sovereign rights sa Benham Rise (China recognizes our sovereign rights over Benham Rise)," Roque said in a press briefing Thursday.

Roque, however, insisted that the Philippine government will not recognize the Chinese names given to the said features and will proceed to giving them Filipino names.

The said features reportedly named by China are the Jinghao, Tianbao, Haidonquing, and Jujiu Seamounts; and the Cuiqiao Hill. The Cuiqiao Hill and Jujiu Seamount that form the central peaks of the Philippine Rise undersea geological province itself.

"Dahil meron tayong sovereign rights, meron tayong karapatang magbigay ng pangalan. 'Wag magagalit ang China dahil hindi lang naman pangalan ng Chino ang pinalitan natin sang-ayon po yan sa independent foreign policy ng ating Pangulo (Because we have sovereign rights, we have the right to name them. China should not take it the wrong way because it is not only Chinese name that we are replacing based on the President's independent foreign policy)," Roque said.

"We're not attributing any bad faith to China but we're just saying, respect us, too, that we will give Philippine names to them," he added.

"We will recognize the Philippine name in the Republic of the Philippines. We hope China understands, we will not recognize [the names they gave] for purpose of our domestic affairs," he continued.

Roque also said that President Duterte himself thinks that China's move is not an issue since it is recognized that the Philippine Rise is under the sovereignty of the Philippines anyway.

"Ang sinabi ng Pangulo, 'Wala akong pakialam kung ano man 'yan (The President said he does not care whatever names they gave those features),'" he said.

"Basta ito ay na-award sa Pilipinas, kahit anong sabihin ng China, maglalagay din tayo ng pangalan diyan (It is awarded to the Philippines so whatever China says, we will put Filipino names there)," he added.

In May last year, President Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) no. 25, renaming the 13million hectare underwater plateau to Philippine Rise, "in the exercise of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction."