Philippines lodges diplomatic protest with China over 'dangerous' air maneuvers

⁠ ⁠Philippines accuses China of conducting ‘dangerous maneuvers’ in South China Sea, while Beijing says it acted in accordance with law

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest with China over what it called "dangerous maneuvers" and flares against Filipino aircraft flying over the disputed South China Sea.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza confirmed on Tuesday that Manila had lodged the protest, according to Rappler News.

Manila had said Chinese military planes allegedly conducted “dangerous maneuvers” and dropped flares in the path of the Philippine Air Force aircraft, NC-212i, when the two were flying over Scarborough Shoal.

China’s People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command had said it deployed maritime and aerial forces to "identify, verify, track, monitor, warn, and drive away the intruding aircraft in accordance with the law."

The operation was carried out professionally and in adherence to legal standards, it had said.

Scarborough Shoal is a high-tide elevation claimed by both China and the Philippines. The issue of sovereignty over the feature remains unresolved.

Kaynak: