Chinese Military Expels Philippine Aircraft from Airspace over Huangyan Dao

Dragon Media News Desk

The PLA Southern Theater Command said it expelled a Philippine C-208 aircraft after it entered the airspace over Huangyan Dao on October 3 without approval from the Chinese government. Senior Captain Zhai Shichen, a spokesperson for the command, said naval and air forces monitored the aircraft and issued warnings in accordance with laws and regulations.

Zhai said Huangyan Dao is an inherent part of China’s territory and that the Philippine actions violated China’s sovereignty and could lead to unintended incidents in the air and at sea. He said Southern Theater Command forces remain on high alert to safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability.

Footage released by the Southern Theater Command showed a J-16 fighter carrying a PL-10 missile during the operation to expel the aircraft. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, said carrying live ammunition on fighter jets is a routine deployment measure. He said all necessary measures could be taken if China’s sovereignty or airspace security were threatened.

The Philippine Star reported on Sunday that a J-16 flew directly in front of and around the C-208, creating what the Armed Forces of the Philippines described as a serious aviation safety risk. The Chinese side said the airspace over Huangyan Dao belongs to China and that intercepting aircraft or vessels that enter the area illegally is lawful and justified.