The Philippines on Tuesday refuted China’s claim that it has “sovereignty” over Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc. It came in response to Beijing’s pronouncement that it has “sovereign” rights over Panatag — an apparent effort to defend a recent incident of “close distance maneuvering” by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel that “constrained” the movement of a Philippine ship sailing in the area. “The Philippine position is that we continue to exercise full sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and its territorial sea, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the surrounding EEZ (exclusive economic zone) and continental shelf,” Palace spokesperson Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Blancaflor, M. (2022, March 30). Phl rebuffs China's sovereignty claim. Daily Tribune, pp. A1, A6.