The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday flagged “critical points” in what China described as a humanitarian act by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) toward a Filipino fisherman off the coast of Zambales, saying several claims surrounding the incident were “inaccurate and misleading.”

In a Facebook post, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said a PLAN warship provided food and water to a Filipino fisherman on December 25 after he was allegedly stranded at sea for three days due to engine failure. The embassy also claimed the Chinese Navy coordinated the assistance with the PCG.

The PCG confirmed that a PLAN Luyang III–class guided-missile destroyer, bow number 174, gave the fisherman one bottle of water and three packs of biscuits. However, it disputed key details in China’s account.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela said the Coast Guard “received no prior information” or coordination from the PLAN regarding the fisherman’s location or condition.

“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 told reporters in a Viber message.

Not adrift for three days

Tarriela said claims that the fisherman had been adrift for three days were false. The fisherman, identified as Larry Tumalis, was safely moored to a floating aggregate device (FAD), locally known as a payao, and was waiting to be picked up by his mother boat, FBCA Gavin.

According to Tarriela, Tumalis’ service boat departed on a fishing trip at around 3 p.m. on December 24. He was located by the PCG and his mother boat the following afternoon—less than 24 hours later.

Tumalis was reported missing for several hours, prompting the deployment of BRP Cape San Agustin at around 10:55 a.m. After roughly three hours of search operations, the fisherman was found at 2:15 p.m. and safely turned over to his mother boat.

Tarriela added that Tumalis became frightened when the PLAN warship launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) toward him.

“In response, he used carbon deposits scraped from the tip of his engine’s exhaust pipe to write ‘HELP ME,’” Tarriela said.

Inside Philippine waters

Tarriela also stressed that the Chinese warship had no legitimate reason to be operating in the area, noting that the reported location of the encounter—about 71 nautical miles west of Silanguin Island—lies well within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“We hope this incident is not exploited as propaganda by China,” Tarriela said. “Instead, it should serve as recognition that Filipino fishermen have full rights to fish in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc.”

He added that the PLAN, unlike the China Coast Guard (CCG), should stop endorsing Beijing’s expansive claims over the South China Sea based on the invalid “ten-dash line,” which was struck down by an international arbitral ruling.

The incident comes amid persistent tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Earlier this month, three Filipino fishermen were injured after the China Coast Guard fired water cannons at them near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, according to the PCG.

China’s foreign ministry offered a different account of that incident, calling the CCG’s actions “professional” and accusing Filipino fishermen of carrying knives—an allegation Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed as “blatant lies.”

Despite acknowledging the assistance provided by the PLAN, Tarriela stressed that humanitarian gestures cannot overshadow broader concerns over China’s continued presence and actions within Philippine maritime zones.