CHINA SHOULD’VE NOTIFIED PH OF SHIPS’ PASSAGE THROUGH SIBUTU—EXPERT

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — While the Philippine military deemed the presence of four Chinese warships in the Sibutu Strait as “innocent passage,” a security expert on Tuesday pointed out that Beijing should have notified Manila about it.

Chester Cabalza, president and founder of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said this is due to the fact that Sibutu, which refers to the narrow channel that separates Sulu Archipelago and Borneo, remains part of the nation’s internal waters.

Innocent passage, but…

Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the presence of Chinese warships constitutes “innocent passage.”

READ: 4 Chinese warships spotted in Sibutu, only ‘innocent passage’–AFP

According to Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a passage may be deemed innocent “so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State.”

Cabalza, however, noted that Beijing should have asked for the consent of Manila before passing through.

Chinese gray ships inside PH internal waters

“Since these are warships, China must call the Philippine hotlines that they’re passing through our sea lanes,” Cabalza told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

READ: Taiwan says four Chinese ships entered ‘prohibited’ waters

He also pointed out that: “There must be consent from the Philippine government on its end and from other relevant maritime agencies since these gray ships are passing through our internal waters and territory.”

It is not yet clear if China sought the Philippines’ permission for the People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships to pass through Sibutu.