UPDATE 1-Philippines' Duterte warns of 'unfriendly' greeting for uninvited warships

(Adds Philippines defence minister, context)
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA, Aug 20 (Reuters) - President Rodrigo Duterte warned
on Tuesday foreign ships faced "unfriendly" treatment if they
ventured into Philippines' territorial waters without
permission, in a swipe at China's deployment of warships a few
miles off the coast.
The warning comes as Duterte faces critics at home who
accuse him of being passive over Chinese provocations in
exchange for business ties with Beijing, though promised
investments have been slow in coming.
Duterte's frustration over multiple sightings this year of
Chinese warships moving within the country's 12-mile territorial
sea, at various locations in the archipelago, was relayed on
Tuesday by his spokesman Salvador Panelo.
"All foreign vessels passing our territorial waters must
notify and get clearance from the proper government authority
well in advance of the actual passage," Panelo said in a
statement, quoting Duterte.
"Either we get a compliance in a friendly manner or we
enforce it in an unfriendly manner," he added.
Panelo did not refer to China by name, nor elaborate on what
that enforcement might entail.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters an
unfriendly response could involve escorting the unwelcome vessel
out of the area. "There are so many things that we can do to be
unfriendly," he said.
Opinion surveys consistently give Duterte a level of
domestic approval never seen at this point in a presidency.
The same polls show growing disdain for China over its
conduct in the South China Sea and concerns among some Filipinos
over an influx of Chinese online gaming workers under Duterte.
Duterte is scheduled to visit China next week where he has
promised to discuss with counterpart Xi Jinping the Philippines'
2016 international arbitration victory over China. Duterte has chosen not to push that ruling, which
invalidated China's claim of sovereignty over most of the South
China Sea, which is at odds with claims by Vietnam, Malaysia,
Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Beijing did not participate in the arbitration and rejected
the award.
Manila has lodged several diplomatic protests in recent
weeks over the activities of Chinese coast guard, navy and
paramilitary fishing vessels in Philippine-controlled areas of
the South China Sea and in its territorial waters. The armed forces has released images and cited witness
sightings between February and early August of Chinese warships
off Palawan and Tawi Tawi islands.
Lorenzana said the Chinese activity was concerning.
"The frequency has increased also, so it's very alarming why
so many navy ships of the Chinese are passing through," he said.