A senior military official yesterday said China is not required to get clearance from the Philippines when its vessels pass through international waters like Sibutu and Balabac straits, under the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Sibutu is a channel that separates Borneo from the Sulu archipelago in Mindanao while Balabac is one of the straits connecting the South China Sea with the Sulu Sea. Balabac Strait separates Balabac Island in Palawan from Banggi Islands in Malaysia.

Reyes, V., & Montemayor, J. (2019, August 22). 'Chinese vessels not required to get PH clearance'. Malaya Business Insight, pp. B1, B2.