Beijing hit back on Saturday at Manila’s claims that the Chinese military made “dangerous manoeuvres” in the South China Sea, accusing Philippine forces of intrusion.
The People’s Liberation’s Southern Theatre Command said the Philippine Air Force ignored China’s warnings and “disturbed Chinese military’s normal exercises by intruding” to Scarborough Shoal.
The command said it deployed marine and air personnel to “legally identify, verify, track, monitor, repeatedly warn and dispel” a Philippine Air Force NC-212 light transport plane in the area.
“We warned the Philippines to stop infringing on our legitimate rights and stop provocative actions and distorting facts,” the command said.
It added that the Chinese military was on high alert and would firmly defend its sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea area.
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Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint
Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint
Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is claimed by both Beijing and Manila and has been effectively controlled by China since an intense stand-off in 2012. It is about 220km (120 nautical miles) west of the main Philippine island Luzon.
The shoal has been the focus of hostilities between Chinese and Philippine coastguard and navy forces in the past year as has another hotly disputed atoll, Second Thomas Shoal.
Earlier, Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said two Chinese air force aircraft took provocative action on Thursday morning, executing a dangerous manoeuvre and dropping flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force plane on a routine patrol in the South China Sea.
All those aboard the Philippine Air Force NC-212i were unharmed and returned safely to Clark Air Base north of Manila after the incident over Scarborough Shoal, Brawner said.
“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 said.
Associated Press quoted a senior Philippine security official as saying the Chinese jets flew at a “very close distance” to the Philippine plane and “put the lives of our pilots in real risk and danger”. Another security officer said at least eight flares came from the Chinese fighter jets.
Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident.
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Philippine coastguard removes Chinese barrier at disputed Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea
Philippine coastguard removes Chinese barrier at disputed Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea
Brawner said the incident was reported to Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs, which has filed numerous diplomatic protests against China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters.
Brawner suggested the incident would not stop the Philippines from undertaking such patrols in the contested region.
“We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law,” he said.
