Senate panel begins crafting new Philippine map to counter China’s ‘10-dash’ map

MANILA, Philippines — The newly created Senate Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones is set to kick off its marathon hearings to craft a new Philippine map in response to China’s contested 10-dash-line map.

Sen. Francis Tolentino said that the maritime panel will draw up a revised Philippine map that incorporates Philippine features in the West Philippine Sea.

The panel’s first hearing will be held today, September 14.

“This will be five hearings because we are trying to craft our own map. So, this is a response to the 10-dash line,” Tolentino said in a statement.

The senator previously filed a Senate bill proposing the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which encompasses exclusive economic zones, continental shelf, and even the underground features belonging to the Philippines.

"We should add Benham Rise, also known as the Philippine Rise, on the other side. Let's include it all at once, one time big time," Tolentino said in Filipino.

Tolentino further concluded: "That's the entirety, we're now the West Philippine Sea, that should be institutionalized as well. The same goes for Benham Rise; my suggestion is to call it Talampas ng Pilipinas."

The Philippines previously objected to China's unveiling of its new territorial map, which illustrated its claims of ownership over parts of the South China Sea that overlap with Philippine features.

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