MANILA, Oct 4 — The Philippines accused China’s military and coast guard today of harassing Filipino government aircraft and boats in two areas of the disputed South China Sea.
A J-16 fighter interfered with a Filipino Cessna 208 turboprop that was conducting a “routine military patrol” near Scarborough Shoal yesterday, a Philippine armed forces statement said.
“The J-16 repeatedly approached and manoeuvred in close proximity to the Philippine aircraft, including manoeuvring ahead of and around it and positioning itself within the Philippine aircraft’s wake,” it said.
While the Filipino aircraft completed its mission safely, the Filipino military called the incident “part of a recurring pattern of unsafe and coercive behaviour against Philippine government vessels and aircraft conducting lawful operations”.
