MANILA, Philippines – Kinondena ng Armed Forces of the Philippines nitong Sabado, Agosto 10 sa paggamit ng Chinese air force ng flares sa daraanan ng eroplano ng Philippine Air Force habang nagpapatrolya sa Bajo de Masinloc.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff, na ang Philippine military “strongly condemns the dangerous and provocative actions of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) that endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones.”
Ani Brawner, nagsasagawa ng “routine maritime patrol” ang isang PAF NC-212i propeller-driven light transport airplane sa Bajo de Masinloc noong Agosto 8 nang ang dalawang PLAAF aircraft “executed a dangerous maneuver at around 9:00 AM and dropped flares in the path of our NC-212i.”
Bagama’t nagawang makabalik ng eroplano ng PAF patungong Clark Air Base nang hindi nasasaktan ang mga tauhan nito, sinabi ng AFP na “[t]he incident posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation.”
Ang incidente ay kasunod ng pagkakasundo ng Manila at Beijing noong nakaraang buwan na pahupain ang tension sa South China Sea, kabilang ang West Philippine Sea na pasok sa exclusive economic zone at continental shelf ng Pilipinas.
Samantala, sinabi ni Brawner nitong Sabado na, “The AFP has reported the incident to the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies. We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, particularly [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the Chicago Convention.”
Nitong Biyernes, sinabi ng AFP na walang anumang bakas ng “Chinese military activity in the area of Bajo de Masinloc” bukod sa “usual illegal encroachment'” ng mga barko ng Chinese maritime militia. RNT/JGC
