China Expels Philippine Aircraft Over Huangyan Dao Amid Rising South China Sea Tensions

The Chinese military reported that a Philippine C-208 aircraft entered the airspace above Huangyan Dao without proper authorization. In response, the PLA Southern Theater Command deployed both naval and air assets to track, monitor, issue warnings, and eventually expel the intruding aircraft in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. Chinese officials argued that the incident represents a clear violation of China’s sovereignty and international norms.

Officials from China denounced the actions as part of a broader strategy by the Philippines to pursue illegal claims through military provocations and propaganda. A spokesperson emphasized that Huangyan Dao is an undisputed part of Chinese territory and reiterated that the country’s forces are prepared to defend both its national sovereignty and the overall stability of the South China Sea. This incident follows previous episodes of aerial confrontations, such as an earlier joint patrol involving Philippine and U.S. military aircraft that also heightened regional tensions.

Experts have observed that the Philippine strategy appears to rely on increasingly frequent and riskier aerial maneuvers, which, despite being a lower cost method of provocation compared to naval activity, carry a higher likelihood of triggering dangerous incidents. The trend of using fast-moving aircraft instead of slower vessels is seen as a deliberate tactic to intensify domestic support and make a point, although Chinese military leaders remain confident in their ability to maintain control over their sovereign airspace and waters.