Lorenzana says US ships passage in South China Sea not cause for concern

January 22, 2018

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana emphasized that the American ships' passage in South China Sea is not a cause of concern.

“No, for as long as they are on innocent passage, international law allows innocent passage even in territorial waters,” he said late Sunday.

Lorenzana added the United States is not informing them about its activities in the South China Sea.

“We do not have (a) say on whatever the Americans will do at the South China Sea. They do not inform us beforehand of their activities there,” he said.

Just recently, China accused a United States war ship for entering its territorial waters after USS Hoper came within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal also known in the Philippines as Panatag Shoal.

The Scarborough shoal which is around 124 nautical miles away from the coast of Zambales was also being claimed by the Philippines. Robina Asido/DMS