Manila, April 22 -- The National Task Force - West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) Area Task Force West denied claims that the Philippines sought permission from China to hold its regular rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission for the contingent manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal last month.

"The Philippines firmly asserts that no permission was sought from, nor granted by, China for the conduct of our lawful and regular RoRe mission to our troops stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) in Ayungin Shoal on 04 March 2025," the task force said in a statement Monday night.

It stressed that Ayungin Shoal is a feature well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral...