Balabac Strait

Balabac Strait
Balabac Strait sunset on Winter Solstice
Balabac Strait Location within the Philippines and Malaysia
Location	Palawan, Philippines Sabah, Malaysia
Coordinates	7°40′N117°00′E / 7.667°N 117.000°E / 7.667; 117.000
Type	Strait

The Balabac Strait (Filipino : Kipot ng Balabak; Malay : Selat Balabak) ^[1] is one of the straits that connects the South China Sea with the Sulu Sea. It separates Balabac Island (Palawan province), Philippines, from Balambangan and the Banggi Islands north of Borneo that are a part of Malaysia's Sabah state. ^[2]

Description

The strait is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide with a maximum depth of around 100 metres (330 ft). ^[3] It was therefore likely to have been below sea level before the last ice age and archaelogica; records indicate that there was an exchange of flora and fauna such as the Bornean tiger between Borneo and the Palawans. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Foreign relations

In 2021, Chinese vessels passed through the strait without prior notice. In the same way, American submarines refused to surface. Because of this, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee drafted a bill to define the maritime zones of the Philippines. ^[9] On June 19, 2024, four People's Liberation Army Navy vessels passed through the strait, with two vessels heading southwest at 1:49 p.m., while two other vessels headed the same direction at 3:56 p.m. ^[10] The incident gained controversy online. ^[11] The incident, with another near El Nido, caused fear amongst citizens. ^[12]

See also

• Malaysia–Philippines border – the border between the two countries.
• Mindoro Strait – another strait connecting the South China Sea with the Sulu Sea.

References

1. Hj. Idris, Hanizah (2006). Perdagangan pelabuhan di Borneo [Trade port in Borneo] (in Malay). Penerbit Universiti Malaya. p. 3.
2. "Balabac Strait: Philippines". Geographical Names. Geographic.org. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
3. Pinxian Wang; Qianyu Li (27 May 2009). The South China Sea: Paleoceanography and Sedimentology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 26. ISBN   978-1-4020-9745-4.
4. Rohling, E. G.; Fenton, M.; Jorissen, F. G.; Bertrand, P.; Ganssen, G.; Caulet, J. P. (1998). "Magnitudes of sea-level lowstands of the past 500,000 years". Nature . 394 (6689): 162–165. Bibcode:1998Natur.394..162R. doi:10.1038/28134. S2CID   4421184.
5. Waelbroeck, C.; Labeyrie, L.; Michel, E.; Duplessy, J. C.; McManus, J. F.; Lambeck, K.; Balbon, E.; Labracherie, M. (2002). "Sea-level and deep water temperature changes derived from benthic foraminifera isotopic records". Quaternary Science Reviews . 21 (1): 295–305. Bibcode:2002QSRv...21..295W. doi:10.1016/S0277-3791(01)00101-9.
6. Bintanja, R.; Van de Wal, R.S.W.; Oerlemans, J. (2006). "Modelled atmospheric temperatures and global sea levels over the past million years". Nature . 437 (7055): 125–128. doi:10.1038/nature03975. PMID   16136140. S2CID   4347450.
7. Piper, P. J.; Ochoa, J.; Lewis, H.; Paz, V.; Ronquillo, W. P. (2008). "The first evidence for the past presence of the tiger Panthera tigris (L.) on the island of Palawan, Philippines: extinction in an island population". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 264 (1–2): 123–127. Bibcode:2008PPP...264..123P. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.04.003.
8. Piper, Philip J.; Ochoa, Janine; Robles, Emil C.; Lewis, Helen; Paz, Victor (15 March 2011). "Palaeozoology of Palawan Island, Philippines". Quaternary International. 233 (2). Elsevier: 142–158. Bibcode:2011QuInt.233..142P. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2010.07.009.
9. Talosig-Bartolome, Malou (6 December 2021). "Carpio: China warships pass through Balabac Strait sans notice to PHL | Malou Talosig-Bartolome". BusinessMirror . Retrieved 2 June 2025.
10. Bajo, Anna Felicia (21 June 2024). "AFP: 4 PLA Navy ships sailed through Palawan's Balabac". GMA News Online . Retrieved 2 June 2025.
11. Mendoza, John Eric (21 June 2024). "West Philippine Sea: 4 Chinese warships monitored off Balabac, Palawan". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved 2 June 2025.
12. Formoso, Celeste Anna (26 June 2024). "Chinese naval presence in Palawan waters raises alarm". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2 June 2025.