Tensions Soar: Philippine Military Condemns Chinese Air Force Actions at South China Sea Shoal

The Philippine military has condemned 'dangerous and provocative actions' of China's air force. Two Chinese aircrafts endangered a Philippine air patrol over the Scarborough shoal, violating international aviation law. The dispute underscores the broader conflict over South China Sea territories, which China claims despite a 2016 ruling favoring other nations.

The Philippine military has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as 'dangerous and provocative actions' by China's air force at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

According to a military statement, two People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft performed a perilous maneuver and dropped flares, endangering a Philippine air force aircraft conducting a regular maritime patrol on Thursday morning. Romeo Brawner, chief of the Philippine armed forces, stated that these Chinese actions jeopardized personnel engaged in maritime security operations within Philippine maritime zones and contravened international aviation safety laws.

China's embassy in Manila has not yet commented on the incident. Beijing maintains its claim to most of the South China Sea, a vital commercial route valued at over $3 trillion annually, despite overlapping claims from multiple Southeast Asian nations and a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejecting China's expansive territorial claims.

(With inputs from agencies.)