The Philippines has reaffirmed its sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea following accusations from China that a Philippine Navy ship illegally entered the area.
Philippine Navy spokesperson Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad dismissed the Chinese claims, suggesting they are part of an internal propaganda effort. He emphasized that only Philippine-flagged naval and law enforcement vessels are authorized to operate within the country’s maritime zones.
China’s Southern Theatre Command earlier alleged that a Philippine frigate intruded into what it claims as its territorial waters, branding it a violation of Chinese sovereignty.
Scarborough Shoal, also known locally as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, lies just 124 nautical miles off Zambales and falls well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Despite a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, Beijing continues to disregard the decision. The Philippines, along with neighboring nations, remains firm in asserting its territorial rights over parts of the resource-rich waters.
The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime zones west of the Philippines, including Scarborough Shoal and the Kalayaan Island Group, areas central to ongoing regional tensions.