MANILA, Philippines – Namataan ng eroplano ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ang dalawang Chinese military aircraft sa routine patrol sa West Philippine Sea.
Ang isa sa mga eroplano ng China ay lumipad pa nang sobrang lapit sa hindi ligtas na paraan.
Sa pahayag nitong Linggo, Oktubre 4, sinabi ni AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad na ang insidente ay nangyari noong Sabado.
“[A]n AFP C-208 aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol over the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc encountered two Chinese military aircraft on 03 October 2026. One of the aircraft was identified as a J-16 fighter aircraft,” aniya.
“During the encounter, the J-16 repeatedly approached and maneuvered in close proximity to the Philippine aircraft, including maneuvering ahead of and around it and positioning itself within the Philippine aircraft’s wake. These maneuvers posed an aviation safety risk.”
Sinabi ni Trinidad na nagawang makumpleto ng eroplano ng AFP ang pagpapatrolya nito at nakabalik nang walang insidente.
Sa kabila nito, ang insidente ay “part of a recurring pattern of unsafe and coercive behavior against Philippine government vessels and aircraft conducting lawful operations.”
Magpapatuloy ang AFP sa pagsasagawa ng routine maritime at air patrol sa West Philippine Sea.
“The AFP remains vigilant and will continue to prioritize the safety of its personnel and aircraft while carrying out its mandate,” dagdag pa.
Sa kaparehong araw, hinarang naman ng mga barko ng China ang law enforcement operation laban sa foreign fishing vessel na hinihinalang gumagamit ng dinamita malapit sa Pag-asa Island.
Kabilang sa operasyon ang mga tauhan ng Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy at Philippine National Police Maritime Group. RNT/JGC
