MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) condemned the “dangerous and provocative actions” of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which harassed a Filipino aircraft conducting maritime patrols over Scarborough Shoal.
According to AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., two PLAAF aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a NC-212i Philippine Air Force propeller aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol at around 9 a.m. on Thursday.
“This endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones,” said Brawner. “The Chinese aircraft interfered with lawful flight operations and violated international law on aviation safety.”
“The pilot and crew ‘safely returned’ to Clark Air Base in Pampanga at 10 a.m. Thursday,” he added. ‘”All personnel on board were unharmed.”
Brawner further said that the AFP had already reported the incident to the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies.
“We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS and the Chicago Convention (on International Civil Aviation),” Brawner said.
This was the first time the Philippines has complained of dangerous actions by Chinese aircraft, as opposed to navy or coast guard vessels, since President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. took office in 2022.
Amid multiple harassments experienced by Filipinos on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines and China agreed on a provisional arrangement in rotation and reprovisioning missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, the DFA announced in July
In a statement, the DFA said both sides concurred that the agreement “will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea.”
Days later, civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cape Engaño, conducted a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre without untoward incidents./PN
