A SENIOR official of the Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday belied claims made by Chinese media that the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) stationed at Ayungin Shoal is polluting the area by burning waste materials.
Meanwhile, some 260 China vessels including warships were spotted in West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Navy reported.
During a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, dismissed the allegations and clarified that the crew of the Filipino warship was merely conducting a fire drill.
He added that the exercise was to ensure the “survivability and operational readiness” of the vessel.
“Such activity was conducted aboard BRP Sierra Madre last 28 February. The smoke incidentally went beyond what they were intending to exercise, nevertheless this was put under control, there was no damage to the environment, all the men aboard the ship are safe. The exercise was conducted successfully,” Trinidad said.
Trinidad said that crew aboard the BRP Sierra Madre used “combustible material” to make the exercise more realistic.
“It so happened because of the strong winds, (the smoke spread further) but they were able to put everything under control,” Trinidad added.
He also said China’s allegations was part of the “deceptive messaging of the Chinese Communist Party,” adding that the Philippines was being attacked in the information domain.
“The battlefield is the cognitive domain or the minds of the Filipino people. This is also called malign influence (operation),” he said.
Trinidad likewise revealed during the press briefing that the sightings included nine China Coast Guard (CCG) ships near Bajo de Masinloc and seven near Ayungin Shoal. Additionally, two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were also spotted in Philippine of the WPS.
“For the month of February, a total of 260 different ships were monitored all over the WPS,” Trinidad said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun defended the presence of their vessels in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), citing historical claims and international law as basis for China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Guo insisted that China’s rights in the region are well-established and compliant with international norms. He also justified the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, claiming their patrols and law enforcement are lawful. Guo urged the Philippines to cease alleged provocations, false accusations, and activities that disrupt peace and stability in the region.
Tensions remain high as China asserts claims over almost the entire South China Sea, a vital trade route handling over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade.
These claims conflicted with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
To reinforce its sovereignty, the Philippines has designated parts of the disputed waters as the WPS, including the Luzon Sea, the Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s extensive claims lacked legal basis, but China has rejected the ruling.