Analysis of Benham Rise (Philippine Rise) Disputes
Analysis of Benham Rise (Philippine Rise) Disputes Amiel Gerald A. Roldan™ July 28, 2026 Benham Rise, officially renamed the Philippine Rise in 2017, is a large underwater plateau in the Philippine Sea east of Luzon. It includes the Apolaki Caldera (the world’s largest known caldera) and features such as Benham Bank. The disputes surrounding it differ significantly from the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) conflicts. 1. Legal Status - In 2012, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) approved the Philippines’ submission recognizing the area as part of its extended continental shelf. - Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), this grants the Philippines exclusive sovereign rights to explore and exploit natural resources (minerals, oil, gas, sedentary species) on the seabed and subsoil. - It does not grant full sovereignty or territorial title over the water column above it. Other countries retain high-seas freedoms of na...
