China Says Philippine Aircraft 'Intruded Into' Airspace Over Scarborough Shoal

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South China Sea.

China's military on Friday said it tracked and ‌warned three small Philippine aircraft that "illegally intruded into" airspace over the Scarborough Shoal, a contested ⁠feature in the South China Sea, without Beijing's approval.

Senior Colonel Li Jianjian, a spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command (STC) Air Force of the Chinese Military, said on Friday that three small Philippine aircraft — an Islander, a C-208, and a PA-31T — illegally intruded into China’s territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without approval of the Chinese government. The naval and air forces dispatched by the PLA STC tracked and monitored the Philippine aircraft, and issued verbal warnings to them in accordance with laws and regulations. 

"The acts of the Philippine side seriously violate China’s sovereignty, and are highly likely to cause misunderstanding and miscalculation," he added. “We sternly warn the Philippine side to stop rights-violation and provocative acts immediately. Forces of the STC remain on high alert at all times to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.”



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