A fighter jet from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force conducted risky maneuvers in close proximity to a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft. The incident occurred near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a disputed area claimed by China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
The event took place while the Philippine Cessna Caravan was conducting a maritime monitoring mission, carrying journalists and other media personnel.
Reports indicate that the Chinese jet involved in the interception may have been a Su-30. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela stated that at one point during the incident, the PLA Air Force aircraft approached the Cessna to within about 61 meters, performing maneuvers behind, above, and alongside the Philippine plane.
The incident occurred just days after a collision between two Chinese military vessels in a nearby area, which had attempted to block a Philippine ship.
According to Jay Tarriela, the dangerous maneuver – during which the Chinese fighter flew close to the Philippine aircraft – lasted about 20 minutes. During the incident, one of the two Chinese warships below issued radio warnings demanding that the Philippine plane “immediately leave the area,” which were audible in the cockpit. On the same day, Reuters reported that two U.S. Navy ships – the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati and the destroyer USS Higgins – were spotted roughly 30 nautical miles from the reef.
In a report aired on the local PTV channel, a radio transmission in Chinese was heard: “U.S. military aircraft, this is Chinese warship No. 553. You are approaching Chinese airspace. To avoid misunderstandings, turn around and immediately leave this area.” The response in English was unclear. Although the audio mentioned a U.S. military aircraft, media outlets noted that no such plane was visible in the accompanying footage.
Scarborough Shoal is located approximately 225 km from the Philippine coast. Since 2021, Beijing has maintained an increased presence in the area, with near-continuous patrols by Chinese Air Force and Navy units in the surrounding waters.
Just days earlier, Chinese forces reacted strongly to the presence of U.S. destroyers near the disputed reef. The PLA Navy’s Southern Command stated that the USS Higgins had entered waters “without Beijing’s approval, thereby violating China’s sovereignty and security and seriously undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.” The statement also emphasized that Chinese forces would maintain heightened combat readiness in the area.
At the same time, the U.S. Navy stated that “China’s claim regarding this mission is false.” Representatives of the Seventh Fleet clarified that the USS Higgins “protected the rights and freedoms of navigation” near Scarborough Shoal “in accordance with international law.” According to U.S. officials, the operation demonstrated America’s commitment to the principles of freedom of navigation and lawful use of the seas.
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Source: interestingengineering
