MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it received no prior information from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) regarding a Filipino fisherman who was reportedly assisted by a Chinese warship off the coast of Zambales, stressing that the Chinese vessel had no legitimate reason to operate within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a statement, West Philippine Sea (WPS) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela acknowledged the humanitarian gesture of the PLAN Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyer with bow number 174, which reportedly provided a bottle of water and three packs of biscuits to a distressed Filipino fisherman.

“While we acknowledge and appreciate the humanitarian gesture of the People’s Liberation Army Navy Luyang III-class guided-missile destroyer with bow number 174 in providing a bottle of water and three packs of biscuits to distressed Filipino fisherman off the coast of Zambales—a notable contrast to the barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions often employed by the China Coast Guard against Filipino fishermen—several critical points must be emphasized,” Tarriela said.

He said the PCG was not informed beforehand by the PLAN about the location or condition of the fisherman who reportedly received assistance.

Tarriela also disputed claims that the fisherman had been adrift for three days, saying the individual was safely moored to a floating aggregate device, also known as a “payao,” while waiting for his mother boat.

“The service boat departed on a fishing trip on December 24 around 3:00 p.m., and the fisherman was located by the PCG and the mother boat the following afternoon—less than 24 hours later,” he said.

Tarriela added that the PLAN destroyer had no legitimate reason to be operating within Philippine waters, noting that the reported location of the incident at coordinates 14°33.470’N, 118°52.120’E, or about 71 nautical miles west of Silanguin Island, Zambales, is well within the country’s EEZ.

“Finally, we hope this incident is not exploited as propaganda by China,” Tarriela said.

He stressed that the incident should instead serve as recognition that Filipino fishermen have full rights to fish in waters around Bajo de Masinloc, and expressed hope that the PLAN would cease endorsing what he described as the Chinese Communist Party’s unfounded claims over the South China Sea based on the so-called “ten-dash line.”