China's ownership claim over Palawan is "beyond common sense" and "totally absurd" a military spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea said on Tuesday.

In a press conference, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad the online statement that Palawan once belonged to China is "baseless".

"Such statements about Palawan are baseless. They are bereft of legal references. They are beyond common sense. In short, totally absurd. It will never happen that a part of the Philippines will be included in the sovereign territory of any other country," he said.

Trinidad said China is waging information warfare against the Philippines by spreading misinformation to deceive the public.

"Information warfare is being waged against us. The battlefield is the cognitive domain or the minds of the Filipino people. Information warfare is designed to shape the perception of the Filipinos. This is also called malign influence. While this is not covert, not kinetic action, we have been very clear informing our countrymen," he said.

Trinidad also mentioned that China's recent accusation that the Philippines was allegedly polluting the environment in the South China Sea after thick smoke from BRP Sierra Madre last February 28, 2025 was reported by Chinese media "is part of the deceptive messaging of the Chinese Communist Party".

He claimed that the military troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal were just conducting a fire drill onboard the grounded Philippine Navy vessel.

"The officers and men of any warship of the Philippine Navy regularly conduct operational exercises. These are designed to ensure the survivability and operational readiness of that warship," said Trinidad.

"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," he added. Robina Asido/DMS