Duterte orders foreign ships to gain permission to sail in Philippine waters, in message aimed at China

Manila warned that non-compliance could result in an ‘unfriendly’ response by the country’s armed forces

Duterte is expected to soon meet Xi Jinping in China, where he has said he will bring up the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea and assert Manila’s territorial rights

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: AP

Published: 8:30pm, 20 Aug 2019Updated: 10:28pm, 20 Aug 2019

In a rare message aimed at China’s use of warships near Manila’s coast, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered that from Tuesday, all foreign vessels intending to sail through Philippine territorial waters must now notify authorities and receive permission before proceeding.

“Either we get a compliance in a friendly manner, or we enforce it in an unfriendly manner,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Asked by reporters what “unfriendly manner” meant, Panelo replied: “It means we have to stop them and tell them to move out.”

Manila would not rule out using military force if foreign vessels crossed the line, he said. “If it will have to take that, we will do it.”

Panelo noted that while there have been repeated passing through by foreign vessels, “particularly Chinese warships”, Manila has so far kept silent. “But this time we will tell them, please get out of our territory.”

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