Chinese fighter jet incident with Aussie plane in SCS concerns PH

 

MANILA – The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Friday expressed concern over the recent flare deployment of a Chinese fighter jet in front of an Australian military aircraft on patrol in the South China Sea.

“All countries are expected to respect freedom of navigation and overflight in and above international sea lines of communication, such as the South China Sea, and to avoid interference in legitimate activities conducted in international waters and airspace,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said in a statement.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLA-AF) J-16 fighter plane conducted “unsafe maneuvers” and deployed flares in close proximity to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon while the latter was on a routine maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

The Australian Defence Ministry said it had been conducting similar activities in the region “for decades” and does so in accordance with international law, exercising its right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace.

Australian authorities said no injuries were sustained by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel nor was damage caused to the RAAF P-8A.