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Orange Wang

China expelled a Philippine plane that “illegally intruded” into the airspace over a contested South China Sea shoal on Thursday, according to the China Coast Guard.
A C-208 light utility plane sent by the Philippines “illegally invaded the airspace of China’s Huangyan Island”, coastguard spokesman Liu Dejun said on Friday, using the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal.
“The Chinese coastguard closely monitored, warned and drove the aircraft away according to the law,” Liu said.
Scarborough Shoal, known as Panatag Shoal or Bajo De Masinloc in the Philippines, is controlled by Beijing but also claimed by Manila.
The disputed triangular barrier of reefs is over 460 nautical miles from Hainan, the nearest Chinese shore, and about 120 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon.
It has been a flashpoint between the two countries since last year.
“Huangyan Island is China’s inherent territory, and the actions of the Philippine side severely infringe upon China’s sovereignty and pose high risks of maritime and air incidents,” Liu said.
“We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately cease its violations and provocation.”


China claims most of the islands and rocks in the South China Sea and rights over their adjacent waters, leading to territorial disputes with several neighbouring countries, particularly the Philippines.
Last month, Manila enacted maritime legislation embedding its claims into domestic law. The claims included the Scarborough Shoal and most of the islands and reefs of Spratly Islands and their related waters.
Beijing responded by publishing a set of geographic coordinates for 16 base points surrounding Scarborough Shoal.
China also submitted a copy of the geographic coordinates and nautical charts for the baselines of the territorial sea near Scarborough Shoal to the United Nations.
Observers said the efforts were an attempt by Beijing to formalise its territorial claims and were in line with international practice but could be challenged by the next US administration.
China has also been flexing its military muscle around the shoal since November, conducting combat-readiness patrols in the surrounding waters and airspace.
Two weeks ago, it blocked four Philippine vessels that tried to “intrude into the shoal’s territorial waters”. Beijing added that it had “exercised control over the vessels in accordance with the law”.


The wary encounters continued this week.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday that it carried out a routine maritime patrol near Scarborough Shoal, distributing food packs and groceries to Filipino fishermen fishing near the maritime feature.
Philippine aircraft also spotted two China Coast Guard vessels positioned outside the shoal, along with seven Chinese maritime militia vessels in the surrounding waters, the PCG said. Two other Chinese maritime militia vessels were stationed inside the shoal, monitoring access routes into the area, it said.
In the statement on Friday, Liu warned that the Chinese coastguard “will continue to strengthen its enforcement in waters under China’s jurisdiction, resolutely safeguarding the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.


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South China Sea

Chinese coastguard expels Philippine aircraft from Scarborough Shoal airspace

China and the Philippines claim Scarborough Shoal. Photo: AFP

China permits Philippine ship to deliver supplies to Second Thomas Shoal outpost

A Philippine flag flutters atop the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated ship Manila stationed on a contested reef in the Spratly Islands in 1999. Photo: Reuters 

Chinese coastguard takes aim again at Philippines over South China Sea shoal clashes

The Chinese and Philippine coastguards are at odds over what happened during a confrontation in the South China Sea on Wednesday. Photo: Weibo/人民日报

After PLA, Chinese coastguard patrols contested Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea

The Chinese coastguard says it has “continuously strengthened law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters and surrounding areas of China’s Huangyan Island” since early November. Photo: Weibo/ 中國海警

Chinese coastguard uses water cannon, blocks Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal

A Chinese coastguard ship blocks Philippine vessels near the Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday. Four coastguard vessels from the Philippines were prevented from entering territorial waters, China says. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

The latest confrontation near the Scarborough Shoal comes as Beijing and Manilla attempt to legalise territorial rights under their domestic laws. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

News

China

Diplomacy

China says the plane intruded into the area, which is claimed by both countries


China says the plane intruded into the area, which is claimed by both countries.


China-Philippines relations