Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 6) – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has pulled back on an earlier incident report which stated that a Philippine Navy warship was stalked by four Chinese vessels.
On Feb. 4, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo told reporters that two Chinese Coast Guard vessels and two Chinese maritime militias monitored and tailed a Philippine warship near Mischief Reef.
“As of 06 February 2023, the PCG communicates that the said incident report is unverified,” the coast guard said Monday.
READ: PH navy warship monitored, tailed by 4 Chinese vessels — PCG
“Upon verification, the PCG confirmed that the said incident report originated from a tweet of American Defense and Security Expert, Mr. Ray Powell,” it added.
Powell is a project lead at the Gordion Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, a US institution with no ties to the PCG.
The tweet in question tracked the movements of the BRP Andres Bonifacio as it approached Mischief Reef, an area within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
Andres Bonifacio was on a patrol and search mission at the time of the report, the PCG said.
BREAKING: As of 1 Feb/1:00 pm Manila time, two probable PRC maritime militia vessels have departed Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands on an intercept course with PhilippinesNavy offshore patrol vessel BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) as it circumnavigates Reed (Recto) Bank. pic.twitter.com/4HfBhbEC6f
— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) February 1, 2023
Two new Chinese security vessels now at Scarborough (Panatag) shoal in the #Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Maritime Militia ship Qiong Sansha Yu 00001 arrived 2 Feb/1730L from Mischief Reef, while #China Coast Guard 3302 arrived 3 hours later from Guangzhou.#southchinasea pic.twitter.com/U7nRoZwN4D
— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) February 3, 2023
