Marcos: China’s actions in WPS ‘illegal, reckless’
President Marcos on Sunday denounced what he termed as “unjustified, illegal and reckless” actions of two Chinese Air Force aircraft that harassed a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane on Aug. 8 as it flew over the country’s territorial waters near Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag or Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement, the President urged China to “demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies,” as he affirmed the Philippines’ commitment to resort to diplomacy and peaceful means in resolving disputes.
“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,” the Presidential Communications Office quoted Mr. Marcos as saying.
The President issued the statement in reaction to what Philippine military officials described as “provocative actions” by two PLAAF fighter aircraft, which executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a PAF plane that was on routine patrol in the West Philippine Sea.
The PAF aircraft, an NC-212i light transport plane, was met with eight rounds of flares from the Chinese fighter jets that reportedly flew at a “very close” distance, according to reports.
China has insisted that the PAF aircraft “illegally” entered the airspace of Huangyan Dao, the Chinese name for Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, justifying its use of flares.
The President expressed dismay that the latest aerial skirmishes threatened to scuttle efforts to “calm the waters” between the Philippines and China.
“We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace,” he said.
Mr. Marcos said the Philippine government stands by the actions of its men and women in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PAF involved in the incident.
patrol over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Aug. 8, as shown in this screengrab from a video that a government source shared with the Inquirer
‘Affront to sovereignty’
In Congress, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Sunday called on the Chinese government to immediately stop its “clear act of aggression” against the country after the Chinese fighter jets made “dangerous” moves against the PAF plane.
“We urged the Chinese government … to adhere to international law. This recent incident is a blatant violation of international aviation safety standards and the rights of all nations to carry out lawful maritime operations,” he said in a statement.
Estrada described China’s actions as “reckless, provocative and unacceptable.”
“They must be met with firm and decisive condemnation from the international community,” he added.
He noted that the dropping of flares in the path of the PAF plane was “an affront to our sovereignty.”
“The Philippines has always advocated for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to territorial disputes with China and this incident undermines our efforts in de-escalating unnecessary tensions,” stressed Estrada.
“We will not be intimidated. We will continue to defend our sovereignty with resolve and determination while remaining committed to upholding the rule of law and promoting peace in the region,” he added.
Not the first time
The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA said on Saturday that the PAF aircraft “disturbed China’s normal training activities” in the area despite “repeated warnings.”
“We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hype. China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and its adjacent waters,” it said in a statement.
It justified the use of flares against the PAF plane by claiming “the on-site operations of the PLA are professional and legitimate.”
The PLA said it would remain on high alert at all times and would “resolutely defend the national sovereignty and security, and firmly uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
China has controlled Panatag, a resource-rich shoal about 220 kilometers west of Zambales province, since 2012 after a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy.
The 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea said that Panatag is a traditional fishing ground shared by the Philippines, China and Vietnam.
In separate incidents in 2019, 2021 and 2023, the Chinese fired flares from several artificial islands they occupy in the West Philippine Sea as PAF planes patrolled over the area.
Aside from the Philippines, Chinese jets in May this year also fired flares close to an Australian helicopter, an incident condemned as “unsafe and completely unacceptable” by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.
In October last year, Canada said a Chinese aircraft fired flares close to a Canadian military helicopter in the South China Sea.
In the same month, the United States noted that a Chinese fighter jet nearly caused a collision after it came as close as 3 meters to an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea. —WITH A REPORT FROM NESTOR CORRALES INQ
