The Philippine side claimed that a PLAN aircraft took dangerous maneuvers against its public service aircraft, and that this reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of China Wu Qian were asked to make comments on this matter on February 27th.

The fact about this incident is very clear, Wu Qian answered in the press conference , the Philippine public service aircraft, with many journalists aboard, barged into China’s airspace over Huangyan Dao to provoke and play the victim. Its provocation posed threats to our helicopter which was on a routine patrol, and was the real cause of air and maritime safety risks in this encounter.

He pointed out that intruding into other countries’ airspace in breach of international law is more reckless and irresponsible than anything else. We require the Philippine side to immediately stop its rights-infringing, stop spreading false narratives, and work with the Chinese side for peace and stability in the South China Sea.

(Source: Ministry of National Defense of China)