The Philippines only conducts maritime patrols within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), far from the narratives Beijing is peddling through state-controlled media, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.
It was referring to a Global Times report alleging that a PCG vessel deliberately provoked two China Coast Guard ships, CCG 21550 and 5009, near Scarborough Shoal, Huangyan Dao in China, claiming it repeatedly made high-speed crossings astern with the closest distance only about 100 meters.
In a statement, the PCG said that China is attempting to twist the facts regarding the incident near Bajo de Masinloc [Scarborough Shoal] on July 15.
“The Philippine Coast Guard categorically rejects the unfounded claims made by the People’s Republic of China regarding the incident near Bajo de Masinloc on July 15, 2025,” PCG Spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
In contrast, the China Coast Guard vessels were operating unlawfully in these waters, aggressively obstructing our navigation route by speeding up and dangerously crossing close to our vessel in an attempt to intimidate and harass our personnel, he added.
Tarriela explained that a PCG ship, BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), was lawfully conducting a maritime patrol within the Philippines’ EEZ to safeguard Filipino fishermen when the CCG vessels showed up.
“The CCG’s bullying tactics are part of a recurring pattern of coercion, as they encroach into the Philippines’ EEZ, jeopardizing navigation safety and infringing upon our maritime jurisdiction. The PCG remains dedicated to defending our nation’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea without resorting to aggression, and we will continue to document and bring attention to these violations on the global stage,” he said
