MANILA – The Foreign Ministry of China urged the Philippines to “stop the infringement activities and provocations” at Scarborough Shoal, or known to locals as Bajo de Masinloc, after another encounter was reported involving a Philippine Air Force (PAL) aircraft undergoing “routine maritime patrol” was blocked by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
During the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference, its Spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that “Huangyan Dao has always been China’s territory.”
He added that China has indisputable sovereignty over “Huangyan Dao” and its adjacent airspace and waters.
“On August 7 and 8, Philippine military aircraft twice intruded into the adjacent airspace of Huangyan Dao, which gravely infringed upon China’s sovereignty and violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations,” Lin said.
Lin furthered that the Chinese military “took necessary and lawful measures in response, and their maneuvers at the scene were professional and consistent with Chinese laws and international law.”
“Considering that it sent the military aircraft to Huangyan Dao’s airspace during the joint patrol with the US, Australia and Canada in the South China Sea, what the Philippines did with its aircraft was clearly a deliberate provocation,” Lin stated.
Lin reiterated that China will continue to act in accordance with the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Earlier, the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against China Air Force’s “dangerous and provocative actions” while in the airspace above Scarborough Shoal.
This was confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly condemned the “dangerous and provocative actions” of the PLAAF, when it used “flares” to block a Philippine Air Force (PAF) NC-212i aircraft “conducting a routine maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc” last August 8, 2024.
The filing of the diplomatic protest was confirmed by DFA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresita Daza, but did not give further details.
