PH disputes China's claim of Scarborough combat drills, says reports 'not credible'
The Philippine government has dismissed China's claims of conducting joint naval and air combat drills near Scarborough Shoal as not credible. Officials stated that monitoring by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Coast Guard did not detect any such military activity.
Why it matters
Disputes over military activity in the West Philippine Sea highlight ongoing geopolitical tensions and the importance of verified reporting in regional maritime security.
Manila Bulletin - PH disputes China's claim of Scarborough combat drills, says reports ‘not credible’
PH disputes China's claim of Scarborough combat drills, says reports 'not credible'
The National Maritime Council (NMC) said China's claim that it conducted joint naval and air combat drills around Bajo de Masinloc on Aug. 1 was "not credible," citing AFP and PCG monitoring that detected Chinese vessels but no such military exercises.
NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez stressed that even if China conducts patrols in the area, these do not change the legal status of Bajo de Masinloc under UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which the Philippines continues to invoke.
The government said it will continue monitoring the situation and base any diplomatic action only on verified reports from the AFP, PCG, and BFAR, while warning that any military drills in the area could endanger civilian shipping, air traffic, and fishing activities.
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