Manila files diplomatic protest after Chinese jets fire flares near patrol plane

[ryan robertson]

THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT LODGED A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST AGAINST BEIJING FOLLOWING A HARROWING INCIDENT LAST WEEK WHERE CHINESE FIGHTER JETS FIRED EIGHT FLARES DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO A PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE PATROL PLANE OVER THE DISPUTED SCARBOROUGH SHOAL.

THIS PROVOCATIVE MANEUVER — DESCRIBED BY MANILA OFFICIALS AS RECKLESS AND POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC — SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED TENSIONS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS JR. IS CALLING FOR CHINA TO CEASE ALL PROVOCATIVE ACTIVITIES THAT JEOPARDIZE REGIONAL PEACE AND THE SAFETY OF FILIPINO PERSONNEL.

IN A STATEMENT THE CHINESE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY SAYS A PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE PLANE ILLEGALLY FLEW OVER HUANGYAN ISLAND—THE DISPUTED REGION ALSO CALLED THE SCARBOROUGH SHOAL IN THE PHILIPPINES, CHINA SAYS THE PHILIPPINE PLANE —INTERRUPTED THE PLA’S MILITARY EXERCISES. AS A RESULT, CHINA DISPATCHED JETS AND SHIPS TO TRACK AND GUIDE THE PHILIPPINE AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE AIRSPACE.

THE CHINESE MILITARY DESCRIBED ITSACTIONS AS PROFESSIONAL, STANDARD, LAWFUL, AND NECESSARY TO PROTECT CHINA’S SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY. THE PLA REMAINS ON HIGH ALERT AND ISSUED A WARNING TO THE PHILIPPINES TO CEASE ACTIONS IT VIEWS AS PROVOCATIVE.

A PHILIPPINE GENERAL SAID THE INCIDENT WOULD NOT DETER THE PHILIPPINES FROM CONTINUING ITS PATROLS IN THE CONTESTED REGION.

THIS RECENT FLARE-UP IS PART OF A LONGSTANDING DISPUTE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, WHERE TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OVERLAP AMONG SEVERAL NATIONS. DESPITE THE TENSE ENCOUNTER, BOTH COUNTRIES REACHED A PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT LAST MONTH TO EASE TENSIONS…A AGREEMENT WHICH IS PROVING DIFFICULT FOR EACH SIDE TO UPHOLD

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