Philippines to lift moratorium on foreign research ships in its waters

MANILA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines will lift a 2018
moratorium on foreign scientific research in its exclusive
economic zone so it can exploit marine resources, the national
security adviser said on Friday.
President Rodrigo Duterte banned all scientific research by
foreigners off the Philippines' Pacific coast in February last
year and told the navy to chase away unauthorized vessels.
National security adviser Hermogenes Esperon said that
allowing foreign governments and entities to conduct maritime
research again is "good for us... because we get to know more of
the maritime domain".
The Philippines is also beefing up its capabilities to
enforce fisheries laws, Esperon said, with plans to acquire more
coast guard assets and develop multi-purpose fishing vessels.
"Whatever we spend on defence should strengthen our position
on developing our maritime domain especially the West Philippine
Sea into what we call the blue economy", Esperon told a media
briefing.
Manila calls the South China Sea the West Philippine Sea.
Capitalizing on the so-called blue economy, such as using
the oceans to generate energy, or tapping its oil and mineral
resources, could help boost economic growth in the Philippines,
where one-fifth of its 107 million people still live below the
national poverty line.
The ban on foreign scientific research last year focused on
an area called the Benham Rise, which the United Nations in 2012
declared part of the Philippines' continental shelf.
It is believed to be rich in biodiversity and tuna, and
scientists from the United States and Japan have surveyed it
numerous times.
However, Chinese interest has caused concern among
Philippine nationalists mistrustful of its intentions after
decades of disputes and perceived encroachments by Beijing in
the South China Sea.
Before the moratorium, Esperon said "some institutions and
entities", came in without permission, while others did not
allow Filipino scientists to board their vessels. He did not
identify them.
This year, two Chinese research vessels were spotted
lingering in Philippine-controlled waters, which became the
subject of a diplomatic protest in August.
The Philippines has also protested the presence of more than
100 Chinese fishing vessels off Thitu a tiny island it holds
near China's militarized artificial island at Subi Reef.
China claims it has historic right of ownership to almost
the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 international
arbitration ruling that said that claim had no legal basis under
international law.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also
have overlapping claims to parts of it.
Thitu island, the Philipines most strategic outpost in the
South China Sea, is in the midst of major upgrades to its
dilapidated facilities, Esperon said.