The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday denied China’s claim that its ships and aircraft conducted combat readiness patrols near Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in the West Philippine Sea.
Rear Admiral (ret.) Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the military monitored Chinese vessels in the area but found no evidence of coordinated patrols or military drills.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command earlier claimed that its naval and air units carried out “combat readiness patrols” on Sunday in what it described as China’s “territorial sea and airspace” near Scarborough Shoal.
It said the patrols were meant to counter “rights violation and provocative acts.”
Trinidad disputed the claim, saying the AFP’s coordinated maritime domain awareness confirmed that China’s statement was “completely unfounded.”
“What we observed in the area was merely a scattered presence of Chinese vessels operating independently,” Trinidad said.
“There was absolutely no monitored organized movement, tactical maneuvers or joint formations involving their ships or aircraft that would constitute a military exercise,” he added.
China has maintained a presence at Scarborough Shoal for the past 12 years. The shoal lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels. Since then, Chinese forces have prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the shoal’s lagoon.
Trinidad urged the public not to accept China’s claims at face value.
“The AFP remains vigilant and steadfast in monitoring our maritime domain as we advise the public against taking these propaganda narratives at face value,” he said.