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Philippines says China harassed its forces twice in 24 hours
By Administrator
Published on 10/05/2026 11:00
News
South China Sea flashpoints

MANILA — 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”.

 

There was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government on the air incident. The Philippine government said a second confrontation occurred today in the Spratly Islands, further south in the South China Sea.

 

Beijing claims most of the sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

 

The Filipino coast guard said it launched small boats to approach a fishing vessel that it accused of using dynamite to catch fish between Philippine-occupied Thitu Island and China-held Subi Reef.

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