The PHILIPPINES said on Wednesday its fishing center plane came under fire from a Chinese helicopter while hovering near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in another dispute between the two warring countries.
The Philippine National Security Council (NSC) said the incident happened on Monday and its plane was still able to complete its mission. China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It was the latest in a series of air-to-sea clashes between the two countries that have disputed territories in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia’s most disputed areas, which has been with China’s coast guard. than a decade.
China’s actions violated air safety rules, the NSC said in a statement.
Based on its interpretation of old maps, China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, for its abundant fish and green lagoon.
The ship, named after a British ship that got stuck there centuries ago, is located 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the Philippines, within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
A 2016 ruling by the Supreme Court of Arbitration found that China’s claims were not supported by international law, a decision Beijing refused to recognize.
The court did not decide sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, saying it was a common fishing ground for several countries.
CHINESE ‘INTERRUPTION’
Separately, the Philippine defense minister told China on Wednesday to withdraw ships from its EEZ and accused Beijing of trying to interfere in its defense activities, including its use of a US missile for training.
Reuters reported last week that the United States has no immediate plans to release the missile system, which can be armed with cruise missiles capable of hitting Chinese targets.
“China says they are scared, but that is interference in our internal affairs,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters.
“Why don’t they follow the example? Destroy their nuclear weapons. Eliminate all their ballistic missile capabilities. Get out of the West Philippine Sea, and get out of the Mischief reef,” he added, referring to the Philippine EEZ and the man-made, militarized island built there by China.
China has expressed concern over the deployment of the Typhoon missile system to the Philippines, accusing Washington of fueling an arms race.
Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said on Wednesday that if he could, “I would like to have Typhons here in the Philippines forever.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the WhatsApp message.
This development creates the need for government agencies, such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “speeding up cooperation” to counter China’s actions.
“The AFP and government agencies related to maritime and aviation security of the WPS (West Philippine Sea) must accelerate cooperation,” said Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of the Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation, told. BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat.
“By doing so, we can counter China’s continued aggressiveness that interferes not only with freedom of movement but also freedom of overflight.” – John Victor D. Ordoñez with Reuters