On Saturday, the Philippines and China traded accusations after an incident involving a collision between their aircraft over the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine armed forces strongly condemned the "dangerous and provocative maneuvers" of the Chinese air force, while the People's Liberation Army of China responded by claiming that its actions were professional and in accordance with the law.
Written by UNN with reference to Reuters.
On Thursday morning, during a routine patrol over the Scarborough Shoal, two Chinese air force aircraft performed a risky maneuver and fired flares at the flight path of a Philippine plane, according to a military communiqué.
This has jeopardized the lives of our personnel who have recently conducted maritime security operations in the Philippine maritime zones
The Command of the Southern Theater of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Saturday that a Philippine aircraft continued to illegally intrude into the airspace of Huanan Island, disrupting training activities, despite repeated warnings from China. According to them, China's navy and air force carried out identification, tracking, warning and forced expulsion in accordance with the law.
The on-site operation was professional, compliant, legitimate and legal
On Wednesday, Beijing deployed a military patrol near this shoal, which China calls Huanan Island and which they seized in 2012, while Manila calls it Bajo de Masinloc.
Beijing claims almost all of the waters of the South China Sea, which is home to more than $3 trillion in maritime trade annually, including territories also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
China does not recognize the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that Beijing's expansive territorial claims have no legal basis in international law.
Recall
The Philippines and China have reached a preliminary agreement on resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal.