Tensions between China and the Philippines escalate in the skies above the waters of Scarborough Shoal

Beijing hit back Saturday at Manila’s allegations that the Chinese military carried out “dangerous maneuvers” South China Seaaccusing Philippine forces of intrusion.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command said the Philippine Air Force ignored China’s warnings and “disrupted the Chinese military’s normal exercises by intruding” into the theater. Scarborough Bench.

The command said it deployed Navy and Air Force personnel to “repeatedly identify, verify, track, monitor, warn and dispel” a Philippine Air Force NC-212 light transport aircraft in the area.

“We have warned the Philippines to stop infringing on our legitimate rights and to stop its provocative actions and distortion of facts,” the command said.

He added that the Chinese military is on high alert and will firmly defend its sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region.

01:49

Chinese floating barrier blocks Philippine ships in South China Sea

Scarborough Bank, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Bank in the Philippines, is claimed by both Beijing and Manila and has been effectively controlled by China since an intense clash in 2012. It lies about 220 km (120 nautical miles) west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon.

The shoal has been at the center of hostilities between the Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navies over the past year, as has another hotly contested atoll, Second Thomas Shoal.

Earlier, Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner said two Chinese air force planes took provocative action Thursday morning, performing a dangerous maneuver and dropping flares in the path of a Philippine air force plane during a routine patrol in the South China Sea.

All passengers on board the Philippine Air Force NC-212i were unharmed and returned safely to Clark Air Base, north of Manila, after the incident over Scarborough Shoal, Brawner said.

“The incident posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace under Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing aviation safety,” he said.

According to a Philippine security official quoted by the Associated Press, the Chinese jets flew at a “very close distance” to the Philippine plane and “put the lives of our pilots in real danger.” Another security official said at least eight flares came from the Chinese fighter jets.

Both men spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident.

03:09

Philippine Coast Guard removes Chinese barrier on disputed Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea

Brawner said the incident had been reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, which has lodged numerous diplomatic protests against China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters.

Brawner suggested that the incident would not prevent the Philippines from undertaking such patrols in the disputed region.

“We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law,” he said.