Chinese Jet Fighters Conduct Dangerous Maneuvers Against Philippine Aircraft Over the West Philippine Sea 

The Philippines and China figured in another encounter over territory in the West Philippine Sea, but this time in the air – barely a month after agreeing to de-escalate tensions in the disputed waters.

Dropping flares and flying close-range

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported on Saturday, August 10, that two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) jets conducted dangerous maneuvers in the flight path of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane as the latter conducted routine patrols over the West Philippine Sea. 

PAF plane NC-212i, a light cargo aircraft, was reportedly conducting overflight activities over Bajo de Masinloc (also Scarborough Shoal) when two PLAAF multi-role fighter jets “executed a dangerous maneuver… and dropped flares in the path” of the Philippine plane. The incident occurred on Thursday, August 8, following announcements from China that it will conduct patrols simultaneously along with the multilateral drills held by Australia, Canada, the United States, and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. 

Anonymous sources speaking to the Associated Press further noted that the Chinese jets flew “at a very close distance” to the Philippine plane. At least eight flares were reportedly released by the two Chinese jets. None of the Filipino personnel were hurt and the plane returned to the Clark Air Base in Zambales province about an hour after.

Not China’s first rodeo

AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner, Jr. stated that the incident “posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation.” The incident was also seen as “provocative,” with AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Padilla adding, “This is the very reason why we conduct these joint maritime exercises and multi-lateral exercises – because we want to preserve freedom of navigation and overflight in those areas.” 

The Chinese Southern Theater Command argued that the PLAAF jets merely drove away the Philippine plane “illegally” operating over Chinese territory and called the maneuvers “professional, standardized, legitimate, and justified.” Chinese officials later called on the Philippines to “immediately stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hype” in the West Philippine Sea. 

Analysts note that this is the first recorded instance of an airborne encounter between the Philippines and China, at least since tensions intensified over the West Philippine Sea beginning in 2023. However, Chinese fighter jets have conducted similar maneuvers against other countries’ aircrafts in the recent past. Last May, a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares in the flight path of an Australian helicopter assisting in a United Nations mission in the Yellow Sea. In October last year, Chinese jets also dropped flares in the flight path of a Canadian helicopter flying over the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Both Australian and Canadian officials condemned China’s actions as “unsafe, non-standard, and unprofessional.” 

Flares are primarily countermeasures used by jets to distract heat-seeking missiles away from their targets. Outside of this use, flares dropped in the flight path of any oncoming aircraft may come into contact with an aircraft’s rotor blades or engines, posing significant risks. 

New agreements amidst a “continuous pattern”

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. condemned the encounter last Sunday, August 12, and called the PLAAF’s actions “unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace.” The President then referenced the provisional agreement made over resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, noting that the two countries “have hardly started to calm the waters” but could now be facing instability in the air instead. 

Following the incident, the AFP has already reportedly lodged a complaint with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which later announced that it will lodge a diplomatic protest against China over the encounter. “China always said it wanted to de-escalate, but every time something like this happens, it tends to raise tensions,” DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said. The foreign secretary later admitted that the incident took them by surprise. 

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro stated that he expects the incident to become “continuous pattern” given the “continuous struggle for presence and assertion of sovereign rights in the area.” Nonetheless, Secretary Teodoro asserted that the Philippines “cannot let this slide… If we do, it means we acquiesce to them.” 

The National Maritime Council is expected to convene later this week to discuss other possible responses to the encounter. But according to National Security Council Assistant Director-General Jonathan Malaya, the government is considering the creation of “some form of guidelines for air military encounters” to avoid further military escalation in the country’s airspace.