Philippine Navy denies China's claim of expelling vessel from Panatag Shoal

A ranking Philippine Navy official refuted China's claim that Chinese maritime forces expelled the BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) from Panatag Shoal on April 20.

China's Navy, through spokesperson Senior Captain Zhao Zhiwei, asserted that the Filipino naval vessel illegally intruded into Huangyan Dao and warned the Philippine side to cease infringement.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, described the claim as part of China's 'malign information or shaping operations' likely aimed at their domestic audience.

Trinidad emphasized that only Philippine Navy and other Philippine-flagged law enforcement ships have the authority to challenge any ship within the country's maritime zones.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF WPS) also slammed China's assertion that permission was granted for a Philippine resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.

The NTF WPS stressed that Manila does not need permission for missions in Philippine waters.