South China Sea: Chinese military says 3 Philippine aircraft expelled from Spratly Islands
heightened bilateral tensions
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'On February 20, two Philippine C-208 aircraft and one N-22 aircraft illegally entered the airspace near China's Nansha Islands [China's name for the Spratlys],' said Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesman for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command, on Friday.
Tian added that the PLA 'maintained full control of the situation, issued warnings, and drove the aircraft away'.
01:25
Chinese military helicopter and Philippine patrol plane in close encounter over Scarborough Shoal
Chinese military helicopter and Philippine patrol plane in close encounter over Scarborough Shoal
The C-208 is a modified aircraft equipped for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, while the N-22 is a twin-turboprop, high-wing light utility aircraft.
The PLA also released a recording of the warning, delivered in both Chinese and English: 'Philippine military N-22, you are endangering the security of the Chinese reef. Leave immediately and keep far off so as to avoid any misunderstanding.'
The Spratly Islands are a vast group of reefs, shoals, atolls and small islets in the South China Sea. Situated around midway between Vietnam and the Philippines, and north of insular Malaysia, they are claimed – wholly or in part – by several countries in the region.
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'Recently, the Philippine side has disregarded the facts, repeatedly discrediting China's legitimate actions to safeguard its rights,' Tian said, referencing
an incident on Tuesday when another 'Philippine C-208 aircraft illegally entered China's airspace over the Scarborough Shoal, repeatedly changing its altitude'.
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