Balabac Strait
{{EngvarB|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Balabac Strait
| etymology =
| location = Palawan, Philippines
Sabah, Malaysia
| pushpin_map = Philippines
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Philippines and Malaysia
| coordinates = {{coord|7|40|N|117|00|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| part_of =
| image = Balabac Strait Sunset.jpg
| alt = Balabac Strait sunset on Winter Solstice
| caption = Balabac Strait sunset on Winter Solstice
| type = Strait
}}
The Balabac Strait ({{langx|fil|Kipot ng Balabak}}; {{langx|ms|Selat Balabak}}){{cite book|author=Hanizah Hj. Idris|title=Perdagangan pelabuhan di Borneo|trans-title=Trade port in Borneo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hFZOJYJX3C4C|year=2006|language=ms|publisher=Penerbit Universiti Malaya|page=3}} 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.{{cite web|title=Balabac Strait: Philippines|url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-3326387&fid=4981&c=philippines|work=Geographical Names|publisher=Geographic.org|access-date=28 October 2013}}
Description
The strait is about {{convert|50|km||abbr=}} wide with a maximum depth of around {{convert|100|m}}.{{cite book|author1=Pinxian Wang|author2=Qianyu Li|title=The South China Sea: Paleoceanography and Sedimentology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VORh5S-u-SgC&pg=PA26|date=27 May 2009|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4020-9745-4|page=26}} 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.{{cite journal |last1=Rohling |first1=E. G. |last2=Fenton |first2=M. |last3=Jorissen |first3=F. G. |last4=Bertrand |first4=P. |last5=Ganssen |first5=G. |last6=Caulet |first6=J. P. |year=1998 |title=Magnitudes of sea-level lowstands of the past 500,000 years |journal=Nature |volume=394 |issue=6689 |pages=162–165 |doi=10.1038/28134 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242880001 |bibcode=1998Natur.394..162R |s2cid=4421184 }}{{cite journal |last1=Waelbroeck |first1=C. |last2=Labeyrie |first2=L. |last3=Michel |first3=E. |last4=Duplessy |first4=J. C. |last5=McManus |first5=J. F. |last6=Lambeck |first6=K. |last7=Balbon |first7=E. |last8=Labracherie |first8=M. |year=2002 |title=Sea-level and deep water temperature changes derived from benthic foraminifera isotopic records |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=295–305 |doi=10.1016/S0277-3791(01)00101-9 |url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222662752 |bibcode=2002QSRv...21..295W }}{{cite journal |last1=Bintanja |first1=R. |last2=Van de Wal |first2=R.S.W. |last3=Oerlemans |first3=J. |year=2006 |title=Modelled atmospheric temperatures and global sea levels over the past million years |journal=Nature |volume=437 |issue=7055 |pages=125–128 |doi=10.1038/nature03975 |pmid=16136140 |s2cid=4347450 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46669469}}{{cite journal |last1=Piper |first1=P. J. |last2=Ochoa |first2=J. |last3=Lewis |first3=H. |last4=Paz |first4=V. |last5=Ronquillo |first5=W. P. |title=The first evidence for the past presence of the tiger Panthera tigris (L.) on the island of Palawan, Philippines: extinction in an island population |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |year=2008 |volume=264 |issue=1–2 |pages=123–127 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.04.003 |bibcode=2008PPP...264..123P }}{{cite journal |author1=Piper, Philip J. |author2=Ochoa, Janine |author3=Robles, Emil C. |author4=Lewis, Helen |author5=Paz, Victor |title=Palaeozoology of Palawan Island, Philippines |journal=Quaternary International |publisher=Elsevier |volume=233 |issue=2 |pages=142–158 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2010.07.009 |date=2011-03-15 |bibcode=2011QuInt.233..142P }}
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.{{Cite web |last=Talosig-Bartolome |first=Malou |date=2021-12-06 |title=Carpio: China warships pass through Balabac Strait sans notice to PHL {{!}} Malou Talosig-Bartolome |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/12/06/carpio-china-warships-pass-through-balabac-strait-sans-notice-to-phl/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=BusinessMirror |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Bajo |first=Anna Felicia |date=2024-06-21 |title=AFP: 4 PLA Navy ships sailed through Palawan's Balabac |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/910786/afp-4-pla-navy-ships-sailed-through-palawan-s-balabac/story/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}} The incident gained controversy online.{{Cite web |last=Mendoza |first=John Eric |last2= |date=2024-06-21 |title=West Philippine Sea: 4 Chinese warships monitored off Balabac, Palawan |url=https://www.inquirer.net/406968/west-philippine-sea-4-chinese-navy-warships-monitored-off-balabac-palawan/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}} The incident, with another near El Nido, caused fear amongst citizens.{{Cite web |last=Formoso |first=Celeste Anna |date=2024-06-26 |title=Chinese naval presence in Palawan waters raises alarm |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2024/06/26/chinese-naval-presence-in-palawan-waters-raises-alarm |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Daily Tribune |language=en}}
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
{{List of Philippine seas}}
{{Geography of Sabah}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Straits of the Philippines
Category:Straits of the South China Sea
Category:Bodies of water of the Sulu Sea