Philippine military sources said that a Chinese warship stationed near a reclaimed reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea aimed a “powerful light” at a Philippine military plane on a maritime patrol, Thursday.
Alarming the G7 and Asian states, the Armed Forces of the Philippines showed on Monday journalists’ surveillance pictures of China’s rapid reclamation around the reefs in the Spratly archipelago.
“An Air Force Fokker plane was challenged by a Chinese frigate near Subi Reef, aiming a powerful light as it flew over the disputed area,” a Philippine air force official told Reuters, refused to be named because he was not allowed to talk to the press.
“We consider that as a challenge, but our aircraft went on with its mission. It was conducting maritime patrol at that time.”, he official added.
Another military officer who declined also to be named told the story to Reuters that the plane was flying 5, 000 feet above a Chinese occupied reef and was warned by the ship to leave the area over the radio.
Meanwhile, Military spokesman Brigadier-General Jose Kakilala clarified the incident, saying the ship did not fire flares against the Fokker patrol plane, but he refused to give further comments regarding the incident.
South China Sea as most of the potentially energy rich source is now being claimed by China, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade p(–foul word(s) removed–) every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have partly covers in the area.
Earlier, Beijing’s coast guard used water cannons on Filipino fishing boats which went to Scarborough Shoal.
H/T: GMA News; Photo lifted from Google
