A Philippine official said on Friday that he would sail a replica of a balangay — the country’s oldest known boat — across the disputed South China Sea all the way to China, in what was envisioned as an epic voyage meant to foster stronger bilateral relations. The trip would retrace the 1,000-kilometer trip of a Sulu sultan to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty 600 years ago, said Environment Undersecretary Art Valdez, the expedition leader. He would lead a crew of 40 aboard an 80-footer balangay, which would set sail from the country’s Sulu archipelago, passing through the South China Sea. The voyage is to begin mid-April and would likely take a month, depending on weather conditions.

See, A. B. (2017, April 8). 'Balangay' to China? Better than Jet Ski diplomacy. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.