Philippines will not be used by others to challenge China, says Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Asserting its independent foreign policy, the Philippine government stressed that they are not willing to be used by other states to challenge China's dominance in the region.

Despite China's construction of artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the Philippines will not give up its territory.

"We’re not willing to be used by other states that want to challenge alleged dominance of China in the region because we have ceased to be a lackey of any other state. We stand on our own," Roque said in a Malacañang briefing Thursday.

Roque, however, refused to comment on a report that China plans to expand its land reclamation activities in the South China Sea.

Earlier this week, Chinese tabloid newspaper Global Times reported that the size of China's artificial islands will be further expanded in the future through more dredging, according to an expert.

RELATED: Roque: Man-made islands will be ours 'if we can ask China to leave'

'No lack of transparency in Benham Rise research'

A few days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cessation of all foreign exploration of Philippine Rise, also known as Benham Rise, Roque clarified that there has always been transparency on marine scientific research in the area.

As required by the guidelines for conducting scientific research in the undersea region, there has always been a Filipino scientist aboard foreign cruises exploring Benham Rise.

"We are not only transparent, we required them to be accompanied by Filipinos," Roque said, adding the political opposition makes issues of everything.

Earlier this week, the government announced that exploration in the Philippine Rise will be limited to Filipinos. Roque said, however, that foreign researchers can still apply for permission through the Department of Foreign Affairs. They will also need clearance from National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

Roque clarified that Benham Rise is not disputed as the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf had declared the area as part of the Philippines' extended continental shelf.

Beijing is reportedly seeking naming rights for the submarine mountains or seamounts in Benham Rise and the surrounding Philippine Sea.

The STAR reported that the Chinese Navy Hydrographic Office had submitted to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans its proposal to name the undersea feature as Shouyang Ridge.

RELATED: China seeks to name sea features in Philippine Rise