WPS: China’s aircraft carrier presence off Luzon deemed ‘innocent passage’

This undated handout image released by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on April 24, 2023 shows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier Shandong sailing in waters some 120 nautical miles of southeast Taiwan. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — The presence of China’s flagship aircraft carrier off Luzon island, within the edge of the West Philippine Sea, could be considered as an “innocent passage.”

This is according to Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson, as he confirmed the presence of People’s Liberation Army-Navy Shandong off Luzon.

“They are authorized under Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) either through freedom of navigation or rights of innocent passage,” Trinidad said in a regular Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.

READ: West Philippine Sea: Chinese aircraft carrier spotted off Luzon

According to the Article 19 of the Unclos, a passage may be deemed innocent “so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State.”

“We have to understand that the South China Sea is a nautical highway. It could be likened to Edsa on any ordinary day, as ships coming through the straits of Malacca — the world’s busiest strait — exit to the South China Sea,” he added, referring to Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.

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Trinidad also said the Navy is “aware” of Shandong’s presence and the recent passage of the 12,000-ton China Coast Guard (CCG) with hull number 5901.

“On the report of the aircraft carrier and the monster ship of the coast guard, the Philippine Navy monitors our maritime domain, and we are aware of them,” he said.

Global Times on Sunday reported that People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s (PLA-N) aircraft carrier Shandong “recently arrived” about 200 nautical miles away from Luzon or within the edge of the West Philippine Sea.

Shandong, one of the two aircraft carriers under the PLA-N’s fleet, is likely on a scheduled exercise in preparation for a potential voyage into the West Pacific Ocean, the Chinese state tabloid also reported.