THE Foreign Affairs department on Tuesday said the Philippines has filed diplomatic protests against China’s air force after making dangerous maneuver and dropped flares over Philippine military plane in Bajo de Masinloc at the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Military said the Chinese actions put the lives of its crew in danger, however, the patrol plane returned safely to base.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Chinese actions were “unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF (Philippine Air Force) aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace.”
Marcos “strongly condemns” the incident, the statement said, adding it was “worrying that there could be instability in our airspace”.
China defended its operations on Saturday, saying it had “organized naval and air forces to lawfully… (drive) away” the Philippine plane, following “repeated warnings”.
“We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hype,” said a statement from the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army, adding that “China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island (Bajo De Masinloc/Scarborough Shoal) and adjacent waters”.
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