The Philippine government deployed more aircraft in patrolling the West Philippines Sea after a Chinese military helicopter recently harassed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane over Scarborough Shoal early this week.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said two aircraft from Puerto Princesa, Palawan were deployed to conduct maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight on Thursday morning.

"In response to recent aggressive maneuvers by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea... The mission aimed to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea," he said.

"BFAR and PCG reaffirm our unwavering commitment to upholding the Philippines’ sovereignty and ensuring the safety and security of the nation’s maritime domain, despite the unprofessional and dangerous behavior exhibited by Chinese maritime forces," he added.

Tarriela said during the operation, the Philippine aircraft observed and documented the illegal presence of six Chinese maritime militia vessels in Rozul Reef and a China Coast Guard vessel with bow number 5101 and over fifty Chinese Maritime Militia vessels in the vicinity waters off Pagasa Island.

"Throughout the flight, the BFAR aircraft consistently challenged the illegal presence of Chinese maritime forces encountered. This mission also documented the unlawful activities conducted by the Chinese Coast Guard and Maritime Militia in the Kalayaan Island Group," he said.

"Undeterred by provocations from the People's Republic of China, BFAR and PCG remain resolute in maintaining our presence in the West Philippine Sea and confronting the illegal activities of foreign vessels," he added.

In a statement, Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, Southern Theater Command spokesperson accused the Philippines from illegally entering the airspace near China's Nansha Islands and reefs on Thursday.

"The Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army of China monitored the entire process, warned and drove them away. Recently, the Philippines has disregarded the facts and repeatedly stigmatized, hyped and smeared China's legitimate and lawful rights protection actions," he said.

Despite dangerous maneuvers against BFAR plane in Scarborough Shoal last Tuesday, the spokesperson also claimed that "a Philippine C-208 aircraft illegally entered the airspace of China's Huangyan Island, changed the flight altitude without authorization many times, and dropped 920 meters in 218 seconds" last February 18.

"In an unprofessional and dangerous manner, it deliberately crossed the altitude layer of our normal patrol helicopters in the air at close range, which is very likely to cause unexpected incidents in the sea and air," he said.

"The Philippines provoked trouble first and reversed right and wrong later, attempting to peddle its illegal claims. We warn the Philippines that this clumsy trick is doomed to be futile. The theater troops remain on high alert and resolutely defend national sovereignty and security and peace and stability in the South China Sea," he added. Robina Asido/DMS