A senior Philippine Navy (PN) official on Monday denied China’s claim that its maritime forces expelled the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) during a routine patrol at Panatag Shoal (also known as Scarborough Shoal or Huangyan Dao) on April 20.
China earlier alleged that the Philippine vessel had illegally intruded into its waters without approval and was driven away.
In response, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told the Philippine News Agency that the claim is part of Beijing’s “malign information or shaping operations more likely intended for their internal audience.”
Trinidad emphasized that only Philippine Navy and law enforcement vessels have the authority to challenge any ship operating within the country’s maritime zones.
“Only the PN and other Philippine-flagged law enforcement ships have the authority and legal bases to challenge any ship within maritime zones,” he said.