The China Coast Guard said on Thursday that it expelled two Philippine reconnaissance planes that illegally intruded into the airspace over Huangyan Island in the South China Sea on Thursday.

The CCG spokesman Liu Dejun said in a statement that two Philippine reconnaissance aircraft were tracked, monitored, and driven away in accordance with the law.

He noted that recently the Philippines has "frequently sent aircraft under various unfounded pretexts to intrude into waters and airspace near Huangyan Island", calling the moves "provocative acts that seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and undermined regional peace and stability".

"We sternly warn the Philippine side to stop its infringements, provocations, and misleading hype immediately," Liu said.

Huangyan Island is China's inherent territory, the spokesman stressed, adding that the China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement operations in waters under China's jurisdiction to firmly safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

(Source: ChinaDaily)