It was the first time the Philippines has complained of dangerous actions by Chinese aircraft, as opposed to navy or coast guard vessels, since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022.
Two People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a NC-212i Philippine Air Force propeller aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol over the Scarborough Shoal around 9 a.m. Thursday, the AFP said in a statement.
It "endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones," said AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., adding that the Chinese aircraft interfered with lawful flight operations and violated international law on aviation safety.
The pilot and crew "safely returned" to Clark Air Base in Pampanga at 10 a.m. Thursday, Brawner said.