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.
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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.
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“As of 06 February 2023, the PCG communicates that the said incident report is unverified,” the coast guard said Monday.
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READ: PH navy warship monitored, tailed by 4 Chinese vessels — PCG
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“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.
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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.
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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.
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Andres Bonifacio was on a patrol and search mission at the time of the report, the PCG said.
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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
