The national government on Monday, August 3, dismissed Beijing’s claims that it held joint naval and air combat exercises around Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea, stating that maritime surveillance reports show no evidence of such drills.
National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez confirmed that while Chinese vessels remain present in the area, surveillance by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) contradicts Beijing’s statements.
“Based on currently available reporting, the report that China conducted a joint naval-air combat patrol around Bajo de Masinloc on Aug. 1, 2026 was deemed not credible,” said Lopez, a retired admiral.
“As per monitoring and reports from our AFP and PCG units, there is a presence of China Coast Guard, maritime militia, and People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) vessels at Bajo de Masinloc, as monitored and reported on a daily basis,” he continued.
“But as to the actual conduct of navy-air combat drills, there were no such activities. This is again Chinese propaganda to ‘assert’ their maritime claims and support their activities over Bajo de Masinloc,” he added.
Chinese Announcements Follow Philippine Submissions to the UN
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command claimed it conducted joint exercises on Saturday, August 1, near the shoal—a feature located 124 nautical miles from Zambales within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and roughly 472 nautical miles from Hainan, China.
State media reported that the alleged drills featured H-6K bombers armed with YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, guided missile frigates, helicopters, amphibious ships, and coast guard vessels simulating interception, boarding, and towing maneuvers.
Beijing’s claims followed two key diplomatic actions by Manila at the United Nations:
- Submitting a formal bid to extend the country’s continental shelf beyond its 200-nautical-mile EEZ off Palawan.
- Depositing the official Philippine nautical chart of Bajo de Masinloc with the UN.
China rejected both submissions, calling them illegal and urging the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to block the Philippine filing.
Sovereignty Unmoved by Military Displays
Lopez emphasized that unilateral actions and military posture do not alter maritime rights established under international law.
“Be that as it may, even if China does conduct naval and air patrols around Bajo de Masinloc, such activities do not alter the legal status of the area, based on international law, including UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the 2016 Arbitral Award. Bajo de Masinloc remains an integral part of Philippine territory and the Philippines exercises sovereignty and sovereign rights over the maritime zones that surround it,” he said.
“It is important to note that military drills cannot create sovereignty or maritime rights under international law,” he added.
Ongoing Monitoring and Diplomatic Action
The NMC reaffirmed that the Philippine government will maintain strict surveillance over the flashpoint area and pursue diplomatic channels using verified operational data.
“Any military drills at Bajo de Masinloc are deemed illegal and can pose security and safety issues to civilian shipping, air traffic, and fishing activities in the area. Diplomatic actions will be based on verified reports coming from our operational units, including the AFP, PCG, and BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources],” Lopez said.
Despite Beijing’s continued rejection of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping territorial claims, Scarborough Shoal remains a core territory over which the Philippines exercises sovereign rights.