China fighter jets endanger PAF patrol plane with risky maneuvers

MANILA, Philippines — Two People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter jets executed “dangerous and provocative actions” against a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane patrolling the skies in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said yesterday.

Two China air force aircraft “executed a dangerous maneuver at around 9 a.m. and dropped flares in the path of our NC-212i,” AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said, recounting the alleged incident that happened on Thursday over Panatag Shoal.

He said the military “strongly condemns the dangerous and provocative actions of the PLAAF that endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones.”

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

Brawner reported that the pilots and crew of the NC-212i safely returned to Clark Air Base at around 10 a.m. with all personnel on board unharmed.

“The AFP has reported the incident to the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies. We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the Chicago Convention,” he said.

This is the first time that Philippine and Chinese military planes figured in a confrontation during a maritime patrol operation in the West Philippine Sea.

Recent incidents of harassment, dangerous maneuvers, ramming and water cannon attacks have been happening at sea, usually near Ayungin Shoal during rotation and resupply missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.

China continues to insist on its expansive maritime claims over the South China Sea, including areas within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, despite a 2016 Arbitral Award rejecting China’s claims.

Various nations including the United States, Japan, Australia and members of the European Union have repeatedly called on China to stop what it has been