The Philippine Navy refuted the combat readiness patrols reportedly conducted by the "Southern Theatre Navy" of China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) around the area of Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc (BDM).

Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad noted that the reported patrols conducted by China's PLAN in BDM "are all part of information shaping operations by the CH Communist Party to address any internal dissent or shape the international discourse to their favor."

He said no such activities were monitored around Bajo de Masinloc on Saturday morning as only two China Coast Guard ships, six Chinese maritime militia vessels, four fishing boats from Vietnam and three others from Taiwan were sighted in the area.

"Monitoring by the Navy and the AFP of the West Phil Sea to include our sovereign waters around BdM and all over our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) indicate no such activity... No activity of PLA-N was monitored," Trinidad said.

"The Philippine Navy and the AFP will continue to secure and protect our maritime domain as we remain committed to regional peace and stability," he added.

China's state news agency reported the conduct of combat readiness patrols by the Southern Theatre navy around the area of Scarborough Shoal on Saturday.

The report noted that China's intensified patrols and surveillance in the surrounding waters and airspace of Scarborough Shoal "further strengthened control over the relevant maritime and aerial domains". Robina Asido/DMS