The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly condemned the “dangerous and provocative actions” by China’s air force at Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. This marks the first time the Philippines has reported hazardous actions by Chinese aircraft since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022.
Incident Details
According to the AFP, two aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) performed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force NC-212i propeller aircraft during a routine maritime patrol around 9 a.m. on Thursday. AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that the Chinese aircraft’s actions endangered the lives of the Filipino personnel and interfered with lawful flight operations, violating international aviation safety laws.
The Philippine aircraft returned safely to Clark Air Base in Pampanga by 10 a.m., with all personnel unharmed. The incident has been reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies.
Response from China
In response, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA accused the Philippine aircraft of “illegally intruding” into the airspace of Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) despite repeated warnings. The PLA claimed that their response, which included identification, tracking, warning, and expulsion, was professional, lawful, and legitimate. They urged the Philippines to cease what they termed as infringement and provocation.
Background and Context
Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Island in China, is a key point in the longstanding maritime dispute between the two countries. The shoal, a triangular coral reef formation rich in marine resources, is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone as per the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, were rejected by a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. However, China does not recognize this ruling.
Recent Developments
Prior to this incident, the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command announced a joint combat patrol near Scarborough Shoal, aimed at testing reconnaissance, early warning, rapid mobility, and joint strike capabilities. The AFP confirmed the presence of three PLA Navy vessels trailing a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity involving the armed forces of the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Filipino fishermen regularly frequent the Scarborough Shoal, and tensions have risen over accusations of environmental damage and resource exploitation by Chinese fishermen, which China has denied.