PH disputes China claim of illegal Navy patrols near Scarborough Shoal

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has firmly rejected China’s assertion that a Philippine Navy vessel illegally entered waters near Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc.

In a statement on Monday, the AFP emphasized that the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) was conducting a routine and lawful maritime patrol in the area, adhering to both domestic and international laws.

AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla clarified that the patrol was in line with the Philippine Constitution and Republic Act No. 12064, also known as the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

The operation was also consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.

“Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine national territory under the Constitution. The Philippines exercises sovereignty over the shoal and its territorial sea,” the AFP said.

“The Philippines also has sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the waters adjacent to the shoal, which form part of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” it added.

This response comes after China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command claimed to have expelled a Philippine naval vessel that allegedly intruded into waters near Huangyan Island, China’s name for Scarborough Shoal.

The PLA accused the Philippine ship of illegal entry and issued a stern warning to cease what it termed as “infringements and provocations” .