Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela belied on Thursday the “inaccurate” claims made by China through its state media that it fended off a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel from Bajo de Masinloc (BDM) in the West Philippine Sea.
“This statement is inaccurate. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, BRP DATU SANDAY, continues to patrol the waters of Bajo De Masinloc. Currently, the BFAR vessel is actively ensuring the security of Filipino fishermen in that area,” Tarriela wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He was reacting to a post made by Global Times, the flagship newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, which claimed that it repelled a BFAR ship for allegedly intruding into waters adjacent to Huangyan Dao—China’s name for BDM, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
“Interestingly, some of our media friends are embedded onboard the BFAR vessel, and their forthcoming reports upon completion of the mission will confirm the accuracy of our statement,” Tarriela also noted.
Bajo de Masinloc has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, Beijing has deployed patrol boats that Manila said harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from reaching a lagoon where fish are more plentiful.
Earlier, the Philippine government through National Security Adviser Eduardo Año also rejected China’s narrative regarding the recent joint air patrol with the United States in the West Philippine Sea.
“Our engagements with the United States are well within our rights as a sovereign and independent nation, aimed at promoting maritime security and upholding international law,” Año said in a statement released Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Año urged China to respect Philippine sovereignty and international law, highlighting the importance of established legal frameworks for peaceful relations and cooperation. He said Manila remains committed to partnerships that strengthen its defense capabilities and ensure regional stability.