Philippines to file new diplomatic protest vs China after airspace incident

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:33 p.m.) — The Philippines plans to file a new diplomatic protest against China after two Chinese aircraft dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force aircraft patrolling Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) last week, an incident that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has "strongly" condemned. 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo bared this during an ambush interview on Monday, where he also noted that the latest incident comes at a time when tensions between the two countries are "already calming down."

"I don't know why they did it. ... It took us by surprise," Manalo said on the sidelines of the government's commemoration of the 2024 International Humanitarian Law Day and the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

On Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines accused China of "dangerous and provocative actions" after two Chinese Air Force aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver that "posed a threat to Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircraft and its crew" and "interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction."

Marcos said in a statement on Sunday that China's actions were "unjustified, illegal and reckless." Meanwhile, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said the "on-site operation was professional, abided by norms, legitimate and legal."

The incident marks the first time that the Philippines and China have traded accusations over the conduct of military planes instead of boats or vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines cannot let the incident pass without lodging a diplomatic protest against China, which it has repeatedly done after past confrontations between Chinese and Filipino vessels in the contested waters. 

"Naturally, hindi tayo pwedeng pabayaan ito kahit na sabihin ng publiko na 'diplomatic protest, what not.' We cannot not do it, kung hindi nag-a-acquiesce tayo," Teodoro added.

(Naturally, we cannot just ignore this, even if the public says 'diplomatic protest, what not.' We cannot not do it; otherwise, we are acquiescing.)

The defense chief said he does not think the incident is "alarming."

"It's a response that we should need to be acclimated to," he said.

While the Philippines and China's latest agreement only covers de-escalating tensions during resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita Daza said that the Philippines adopts a "de-escalatory approach to tensions in the WPS." 

"It remains committed to diplomacy and peaceful means of resolving disputes," Daza said in a statement.

Bajo de Masinloc is a ring-shaped coral reef located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales and well within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The feature is at least 472 nautical miles away from the nearest coast of China.