Wary of China, Duterte tells (Philippine) navy to build 'structures' east of Philippines

[TomSea]

Wary of China, Duterte tells navy to build 'structures' east of Philippines

MANILA, March 13 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the navy to put up "structures" to assert sovereignty over a stretch of water east of the country, where Manila has reported a Chinese survey ship was casing the area last year.

The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing after the vessel was tracked moving back and forth over Benham Rise, a vast area east of the country declared by the United Nations in 2012 as part of the Philippines' continental shelf.

The Philippines says Benham Rise is rich in biodiversity and fish stocks.

China's foreign ministry on Friday said the ship was engaged in "normal freedom of navigation and right of innocent passage," and nothing more.

Continued: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/wary-of-china-duterte-tells-navy-to-build-structures-east-of-philippines/ar-AAofj8R?OCID=ansmsnnews11