On Saturday, the Philippine military accused the Chinese Air Force of dangerous and provocative actions against one of its aircraft, while China denied the allegations, according to Asian media.
General Romeo Brawner, the Chief of the Philippine Armed Forces, reported two Chinese Air Force planes executed a perilous manoeuvre around 9:00 a.m., dropping flares in the path of their NC-212i aircraft. He noted these actions posed a threat to the safety of personnel conducting maritime security operations, although the pilot and crew managed to return safely to their base in northern Philippines. Brawner said:
The Philippine military strongly condemns the dangerous and provocative actions of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force that endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones.
“The incident posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation,” he added.
In response, China asserted that it had mobilised its naval and air forces to intercept the Philippine aircraft after issuing several warnings, according to the statement from the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army. The statement said:
We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hype. China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and adjacent waters, according to the statement.
This incident marks the latest escalation in the ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing, as China lays claim to almost the entirety of the South China Sea, disregarding competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, as well as an international ruling that deemed its claims legally unfounded.
In June, the Philippine military reported that one of its sailors lost a thumb during a confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal, another area in the South China Sea, when the Chinese Coast Guard also confiscated or destroyed Philippine equipment, including weapons. Beijing, for its part, accused Manila of escalating the situation and maintains that its actions to defend its claims are legal and proportionate.
