(Eagle News) – At various times since February, at least four Chinese warships have passed through the Philippine territorial waters, particularly at the Sibutu Strait which is near Tawi-Tawi, alarming the Department of National Defense.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana himself brought this up with the Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua when they met during President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, July 22.
Lorenzana, during the turnover of new assets of the Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday, said that there were four Chinese warships that passed waters beween Sibutu Island and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi at least three times since February without the Chinese authorities informing the Philippine government about it.
“There were instances that four Chinese warships passed through at different times starting February” he said in his speech.
This was at the Sibutu Strait which is an international waterway located near Tawi-Tawi.
“They should inform us if they are passing through (our territorial waters) but they did not,” Lorenzana said.
The defense chief said he “frankly” asked the Chinese ambassador in a chance meeting during President Rodrigo Duterte’s SONA if the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning had passed through the Sibutu strait.
“I asked (the Chinese ambassador) frankly if, indeed, Liaoning passed through Sibutu and he said no, but four smaller warships of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy,” he said.
“What I’m saying is, kung warships, they should inform us only that they are passing. But for commercial vessels, no need to ask for permission. Allowed naman ang innocent passage,” he told reporters after the Philippine Coast Guard event on Thursday.
