A Chinese fighter jet and military helicopter harassed a Philippine patrol aircraft while it was flying over Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday morning, October 15.
The Philippine Coast Guard said a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter flew directly beneath its aircraft during a low-altitude pass over Scarborough Shoal. Moments later, a PLA Air Force Shenyang J-16 fighter jet flew close and ‘endangered the safe flight path’ of the Philippine plane, which was carrying PCG personnel and several journalists.
This the latest in China’s moves to step up control over a feature it wants to turn into a “nature reserve.” These actions, according to the PCG in a statement Wednesday, were an ‘aggressive interference’ that placed their crew in danger and disrupted its surveillance mission.
‘Such actions pose a clear and unacceptable risk to the safety of PCG personnel and the journalists embedded on the mission,’ the PCG said.
Second buoy. During the same flight, the PCG also discovered a second yellow floating buoy at the northern tip of the shoal, days after spotting an identical buoy at the center. The agency said both were recently installed but did not specify by whom.
The PCG said its personnel also verified reports of a ‘structure’ seen inside the reef by cross-checking historical satellite imagery, which showed debris that had existed for at least two years, indicating there was no ongoing construction.
Heightened activities. The aerial hostilities occurred amid heightened Chinese activity in the waters off Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground located about 120 nautical miles west of Zambales province, well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
China seized control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 after a months-long standoff, and has since maintained a near-constant presence of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the area.
Days before this patrol flight, the PCG also reported harassment from Chinese vessels in the waters off Scarborough Shoal while it was distributing provisions to Filipino fishers. During this particular incident, the PCG said it faced 11 CCG vessels and 11 maritime militia vessels that executed “dangerous maneuvers and blocking actions,” which delayed the deliveries.
Nature reserve plan. Beijing earlier announced plans to establish a ‘national nature reserve’ over part of Scarborourugh Shoal – a move the Philippine government formally protested as illegal and inconsistent with international law.
China has defended the move as part of efforts to “preserve biodiversity,” but observers see it as China’s further attempts to consolidate and assert control over the area.
Much of the coral at Scarborough Shoal has already been destroyed by years of giant-clam harvesting by Chinese fishers and poachers, leaving deep scars across the reef even as Beijing now seeks to designate the area as a nature zone.
After the aerial harassment, PCG vowed to continue regular patrols over the West Philippine Sea.
‘In the face of such aggressive actions, the PCG remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold international law and safeguard maritime jurisdiction,’ the PCG said.