The Philippine military strongly condemned China’s air force for dangerous actions at the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. This incident marked the first time the Philippines complained about dangerous maneuvers by Chinese aircraft since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022. Two People’s Liberation Army Air Force aircraft engaged in a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine air force aircraft on a routine maritime patrol, endangering the lives of personnel. This action was deemed a violation of international law on aviation safety. Filipino fishermen often visit the Scarborough Shoal, which is a point of contention in the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China. Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a major shipping route with competing claims from other countries. China disputed a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that rejected its expansive claims. In May, the Philippines accused Chinese fishermen of damaging the environment at Scarborough Shoal, which China denied. The incident underscores ongoing tensions in the South China Sea as countries vie for control of the strategic waterway.
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