The Western Mindanao military chief observed on Sunday that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships have stopped passing through Philippine territorial waters following several diplomatic protests by the government. Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana surmised that China’s leadership might have already told off its PLAN warships on their unannounced passage through Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi, the last incident of which was on Aug. 4. In an interview aired on Sunday over radio station dzBB, Sobejana said that foreign ships passing through Sibutu Strait were allowed innocent passage and the Navy only communicated with them to check if they were encountering problems such as piracy.

Andrade, J. I. (2019, August 26). China ships stop passing thru PH waters. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A3.