The Philippine Navy on Tuesday refuted claims that the crew aboard the BRP Sierra Madre were polluting Ayungin Shoal, after state-run China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported that black smoke billowing from the commissioned ship was causing “environmental damage.”

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said the smoke was part of a fire drill conducted on 28 February.

“The exercise for this particular activity was a fire drill. And they usually use combustible materials — these are flammable materials. It just so happened that, because of the strong winds, the smoke was carried farther than expected. But they were able to put everything under control,” Trinidad said.

He explained that the Navy regularly conducts operational exercises to maintain and enhance the warship’s combat effectiveness, ensure crew proficiency, and prepare for any potential threats or emergencies.

“The officers and men of any warship of the Philippine Navy regularly conduct operational exercises. These are designed to ensure the survivability and operational readiness of that warship,” he said.

The Navy official stressed that there was no environmental damage and that all personnel aboard the ship were safe.

“Such activity was conducted aboard BRP Sierra Madre on 28 February. The smoke incidentally went beyond what they were intending to exercise. Nevertheless, this was put under control, there was no damage to the environment, and all the men aboard the ship are safe,” he said.

He added that “the exercise was conducted successfully.”

In its report on Sunday, CGTN accused the BRP Sierra Madre of conducting “a series of environmentally damaging activities” that “pose a threat to the ecosystem” of Ren’ai Jiao — the Chinese name for Ayungin Shoal.

The Chinese state broadcaster claimed that the BRP Sierra Madre carried out a burning activity, resulting in heavy smoke.

“Recent footage shows environmentally harmful activities aboard the vessel... thick smoke is visible from what appears to be a burning activity on a grounded Philippine military ship,” it reported.

According to Trinidad, the Chinese state media’s narrative was part of the “deceptive messaging of the Chinese Communist Party.” (See related story)

The BRP Sierra Madre is a Philippine warship that was deliberately run aground at Ayungin Shoal in 1995 to serve as an outpost of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its decision on 12 July 2016, ruling that China’s claim of historic rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line had no legal basis.

The arbitral ruling, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also declared that China has no legal basis to claim almost the entire South China Sea (SCS).

The Philippines and China are both parties to UNCLOS. However, China does not recognize the ruling and continues to harass Philippine vessels conducting legal maritime operations. Other SCS claimants include Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.