Philippine Military Condemns “Dangerous and Provocative” Actions by China’s Air Force in South China Sea

The Philippine military issued a strong condemnation on Saturday against what it described as “dangerous and provocative actions” by China’s air force in the contested South China Sea. The incident occurred on Thursday morning over the Scarborough Shoal, a region of ongoing territorial disputes.

According to a statement from the Philippine military, two aircraft from China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) executed a hazardous maneuver and dropped flares directly in the path of a Philippine Air Force aircraft. The Philippine aircraft was conducting a routine maritime patrol at the time.

Philippines Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner stated that these actions “endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones.” He further asserted that the Chinese aircraft’s actions interfered with lawful flight operations and constituted a violation of international aviation safety laws.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has not yet responded to requests for comment on the incident.

The South China Sea is a strategic waterway through which more than $3 trillion worth of shipborne commerce passes annually. Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that Beijing’s expansive claims had no basis under international law, China continues to reject the court’s decision.

This latest incident adds to the growing tensions in the region, where conflicting territorial claims and military activities have heightened concerns among neighboring countries and the international community.