MANILA: The Philippine military on August 10 condemned “dangerous and provocative actions” by China’s air force at the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. This marks the first time since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022 that the Philippines has criticized Chinese aircraft, as previous complaints focused on naval or coast guard vessels.
According to the Philippine military, two People’s Liberation Army Air Force aircraft engaged in risky manoeuvres and dropped flares near a Philippine Air Force propeller plane conducting a routine maritime patrol over Scarborough Shoal on the morning of August 8.
The military statement described the actions as endangering the lives of personnel involved in maritime security operations and violating international aviation safety laws.
Philippine Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner stated that the Chinese aircraft interfered with lawful flight operations and breached international norms. China’s embassy in Manila has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, is a key area in the ongoing maritime dispute between the Philippines and China. Beijing had organized a combat patrol near the shoal on August 7. China seized the shoal in 2012 and refers to it as Huangyan Island, while the Philippines continues to assert its claim.
China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, a vital route for over $3 trillion of annual global trade. The area is also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. China has rejected the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found Beijing’s expansive claims to be inconsistent with international law.
In May, the Philippines accused Chinese fishermen of environmental destruction at Scarborough Shoal, including cyanide fishing, harvesting protected marine species, and damaging coral reefs, all of which China has denied.
