ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Chinese military has expelled three Philippine planes that entered the airspace near the Spratly Islands, on Thursday, February 20 2025. This statement was conveyed by China’s Southern Theater Command, Friday, February 21 2025.
China accused the Philippines of provocation to strengthen its claim to the region and warned Manila’s actions would not be successful.
Beijing continues to maintain its claim to almost the entire South China Sea. Although the region is also claimed by several ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal invalidated China’s extensive claims to the region, but Beijing refused to recognize them. Meanwhile, the Philippines said its coast guard and fisheries bureau carried out maritime monitoring flights in the Kalayaan Islands.
The islands are the name the Philippines uses for the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. The monitoring mission aims to affirm the sovereignty and maritime rights of the Philippines.
In the operation, more than 50 Chinese maritime militia ships and one Chinese coast guard ship were detected. However, it is unclear whether the incident China claimed was related to the monitoring mission carried out by the Philippines.
This confrontation is the latest in tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea. Earlier this week, the Philippine coast guard accused the Chinese Navy of carrying out dangerous aerial maneuvers.
The Chinese plane flew too close to a Philippine government plane at Scarborough Shoal, an area of tension. China denies the accusations and continues to maintain its maritime presence in the disputed region. (AT Network)
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