The BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the second warship of the Philippine Navy, prepares to dock at Subic Freeport, Philippines, on Aug. 6, 2013. (Bullit Marquez / AP)
MANILA, PHILIPPINES --
The Philippine authorities on Monday summoned the Chinese language ambassador to protest what it mentioned was the "unlawful incursion" of a Chinese language navy ship into the nation's waters and to demand that Beijing order its ships to respect the nation's territory and observe worldwide legislation, officers mentioned.
The Division of International Affairs in Manila mentioned a reconnaissance ship of China's Individuals's Liberation Military crossed into the Sulu Sea and cruised off the western Palawan and close by Mindoro provinces from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 with out permission and in violation of Philippine sovereignty.
Philippine International Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro summoned Beijing's envoy Huang Xilian and "demanded that China respect Philippine territory and maritime jurisdiction and to adjust to its obligations beneath worldwide legislation," the division mentioned in a press release.
It added that Lazaro requested China to "direct its vessels to desist from coming into Philippine waters uninvited and with out permission."
A Philippine navy ship repeatedly ordered the Chinese language vessel to go away the nation's waters instantly however the vessel responded that it was exercising "harmless passage," a declare which the Philippine authorities disputed.
The Chinese language vessel "didn't observe a monitor that may be thought of as steady and expeditious, lingering within the Sulu Sea for 3 days," the overseas affairs division mentioned.
International ships will be allowed to go by way of archipelagic and territorial waters of one other nation beneath sure restrictions -- together with that they need to not perform fishing, surveillance and analysis with no allow or conduct any exercise that may undermine the safety of the coastal state.
Chinese language embassy officers didn't instantly react to the Philippine authorities assertion.
The incident sparked the next stage of alarm as a result of it occurred throughout the nation's territory and never within the disputed South China Sea, the place China, the Philippines and 4 different governments have had territorial disputes for many years, a navy official mentioned.
The Chinese language navy ship could have been shadowing an American navy ship, which was maneuvering off Palawan on the time as a part of a government-authorized train with Philippine marines, mentioned the official, who spoke on situation of anonymity due to an absence of authority to debate the delicate concern publicly.
The Philippine navy ship approached as shut as 1 nautical mile (1.8 kilometers) from the Chinese language navy ship to watch its motion till it moved away, the official mentioned.
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