The Philippine military has strongly condemned what it described as “dangerous and provocative actions” by China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) jets near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
According to a statement released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), two fighter jets from the PLAAF executed hazardous maneuvers and dropped flares in the flight path of an NC-212i maritime patrol aircraft from the Philippine Air Force on the morning of August 8, 2024, as it was conducting a routine patrol. The specific model of the Chinese jets was not mentioned.
“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,” the PAF commented.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said on August 12, 2024, that an official diplomatic protest would be filed with China.
The Chinese military addressed the incident, stating that it responded to the PAF aircraft’s illegal intrusion into the airspace over Huangyan Island [China’s name for the Scarborough Shoal – ed. note] during a military exercise.
“The Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China organized naval and air forces to conduct identification, verification, tracking, surveillance, warning and expulsion in accordance with the law,” the statement read.
China is currently involved in territorial disputes with multiple countries, such as the Philippines and Malaysia, over the South China Sea, which it claims as part of its national territory. In 2015, China strengthened the Subi Reef to build a naval air base with a 3,000-meter (9,800-feet) runway. The reef is situated 24 kilometers (13 nautical miles) from Thitu Island, where the Philippines maintains several military bases.