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The Philippines does not yet have a policy allowing China to conduct research in Benham Rise, the acting Foreign Affairs secretary said Thursday.
“We have no policy on that. There are ships through the area exercising freedom of navigation. But the fact that this is within the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines any ship would have to get permission from the Philippines if they wish to undertake research,” Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said.
Manalo, asked if there was such permission given to Chinese vessels spotted in the region, responded: “I’m not aware of anything along the line you said.”
This, despite President Rodrigo Duterte saying earlier this week that China had given advance notice that its ships would be in the waters off the coast of northeastern Luzon.
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