China: Firing of flares professional and consistent with int’l law

HARASSMENT IN THE SKY This photo shared by a Philippine government source shows Chinese fighter jets making a “dangerous” move against a Philippine Air Force plane, firing flares into its path as it was flying over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on Aug. 8.
MANILA, Philippines — China insisted that its firing of flares against the path of Philippine Air Force plane while it was flying over Scarborough Shoal was only a part of their “necessary” and “lawful measures,” claiming that it is professional and consistent with international law.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian insisted that Scarborough Shoal, which he called Huang Yan Dao, is theirs.
“On August 7 and 8, Philippine military aircraft twice intruded into the adjacent airspace of Huangyan Dao, which gravely infringed upon China’s sovereignty and violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations,” said Lin.
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Article continues after this advertisement“The Chinese military took necessary and lawful measures in response, and their maneuvers at the scene were professional and consistent with Chinese laws and international law. Considering that it sent the military aircraft to Huangyan Dao’s airspace during the joint patrol with the US, Australia and Canada in the South China Sea, what the Philippines did with its aircraft was clearly a deliberate provocation,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementChina’s continued aggression in Philippine waters is borne out of a sweeping claim over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
It, however, has long been dismissed by an arbitral tribunal.
The Philippine government, for its part, already protested China’s recent harassment and aggression, which transpired at a time when tensions between the two nations are beginning to ease out.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos himself denounced China’s actions, calling it unjustified, illegal, and reckless.
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