Philippines Denies China's Claim of Permission for Ayungin Shoal Medical Evacuation

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has refuted China's assertion that its Coast Guard granted permission for a recent medical evacuation near Ayungin Shoal. The AFP clarified that the mission was conducted under Philippine authority within its Exclusive Economic Zone. This rejection underscores the Philippines' stance on its sovereign rights and its refusal to seek foreign approval for operations in its territory.