The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command recently expelled three Philippine aircraft that had illegally entered the airspace near Nansha Qundao in the South China Sea.
According to Tian Junli, spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, two C-208 aircraft and one N-22 aircraft from the Philippines were tracked and warned off for trespassing into Chinese airspace. Tian criticized the Philippines for what he described as repeated distortions of China's legitimate maritime rights and alleged smear campaigns.
In a separate incident on February 18, a Philippine aircraft unlawfully entered Chinese airspace over Huangyan Dao. Tian noted that the aircraft erratically altered its altitude multiple times, descending 920 meters in just 218 seconds and flying perilously close to a Chinese patrol helicopter. He labeled these maneuvers as "unprofessional and dangerous."
The spokesperson further condemned the Philippines for falsely claiming that China's actions were dangerous, asserting that Manila was attempting to promote its unlawful claims by distorting the facts. "Such clumsy tactics are destined to fail," Tian warned, emphasizing that Chinese forces remain on high alert to defend national sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
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PLA expels Philippine aircraft from China's Nansha Qundao airspace
cgtn.com
