MANILA – The Philippines is planning to protest China air force’s actions in Scarborough Shoal over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, they are scheduled to meet with the National Maritime Council to discuss the country’s response.
“Definitely we will protest this latest move coming at a time na medyo nag-calm down ng konti, then bigla na lang nangyari ito,” Manalo said in an interview on Monday.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday said two People’s Liberation Army – Air Force (PLAAF) airplanes executed dangerous maneuvers and dropped flares in the path of an NC-212i PAF propeller aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol over Scarborough Shoal around 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 8.
Even if no PAF personnel were harmed in the incident, the AFP stressed that it “endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones.”
It added that the Chinese aircraft interfered with lawful flight operations and violated international law on aviation safety.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. condemned the recent dangerous acts of China’s air force, which put the lives of Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel at risk.
“The President strongly condemns the air incident in Bajo de Masinloc earlier this week, and stands by our brave men and women of the AFP, especially the Philippine Air Force,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
“The actions of the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft were unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace,” it added.
Expressing concern about possible “instability” in the Philippines’ airspace, the Palace thus urged China to show responsible actions both in the seas and skies.
“We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace,” the PCO said.
“The Philippines will always remain committed to proper diplomacy and peaceful means of resolving disputes. However, we strongly urge China to demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies,” it added./PN
