President Rodrigo Duterte said Benham Rise remains off limits to other countries except when they are simply passing the through the area.
He issued the statement following the advice of former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
“Benham rise is exclusively Philippine property. I have made it clear to the world I will not allow any intrusion. Well, of course, except their right to innocent passage because that is everybody’s privilege,” Duterte said during his public address on Monday.
However, he said he will not allow any country to exploit Benham rise.
In 2018, Duterte declared the country has exclusive ownership of its economic zones including Benham rise.
This after the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang claimed the country cannot claim ownership of the Benham Rise.