China, Philippines trade blame over jet run-in at Scarborough
China says a Philippine military plane illegally flew over Scarborough Shoal on Oct. 3. Manila says a Chinese J-16 fighter jet flew unsafely close to its patrol plane. The shoal sits about 124 nautical miles off the Philippine coast and has long been a flashpoint.
China and the Philippines are giving opposite accounts of a close call in the sky over the South China Sea.
China's military says a Philippine aircraft "illegally intruded into the territorial airspace" over Scarborough Shoal on Oct. 3, Philstar reported. Beijing calls the shoal Huangyan Dao. Manila calls it Bajo de Masinloc.
Senior Capt. Zhai Shichen, a spokesman for China's Southern Theater Command, said Chinese forces tracked the plane and warned it away. He said the Philippines' actions were "highly likely to cause unintended maritime and air incidents."
The Philippine military tells it differently. It said its C-208 patrol plane met two Chinese military aircraft, including a J-16 fighter. The jet repeatedly flew close, moved ahead of and around the Philippine plane, and slipped into its wake. "These maneuvers posed an aviation safety risk," the military said. The Philippine plane finished its patrol and came home safely.
The run-in was one of several in the past week. Manila reported another confrontation Sunday in the Spratly Islands, farther south. About two weeks ago, the Philippines said a Chinese coast guard ship rammed a Philippine fisheries boat. China blamed the Philippine crew.
There was also trouble in the north. Philippine officials say a Chinese research ship, Jia Hai Ke 7, worked without permission about 69 kilometers off Itbayat in Batanes, the Inquirer reported. A Philippine Coast Guard ship moved within about 100 yards of it on Oct. 1, and the Chinese ship left. Two Chinese coast guard ships also showed up.
This week, the Philippines' National Maritime Council told China to stop "illegal and unauthorized activities" in its waters. China's embassy has said the research ship was operating normally and accused the Philippine Coast Guard of harassment.
Some background: Scarborough Shoal lies about 124 nautical miles off Zambales province. China claims most of the South China Sea. In 2016, an international tribunal rejected the legal basis for those sweeping claims.
What we know: Both sides confirm the Oct. 3 encounter but blame each other.
What we don't: How close the J-16 came, and whether talks will ease the tension.
Where outlets agree Philstar and the Inquirer both report fresh run-ins in the past week between Chinese and Philippine forces in waters Manila claims.
Where they differ China says the Philippine plane entered its airspace illegally, while the Philippine military says the Chinese fighter flew in an unsafe way near a routine patrol.