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South China Sea
This Week in AsiaPolitics

South China Sea: how will Manila answer as Beijing shifts tactics from water to sky?

  • A confrontation between the two countries’ air forces has raised concerns that Beijing may use its aggressive maritime tactics in the sky

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A Philippine Air Force NC-212 light transport plane. The same model of aircraft was involved in an incident on August 8 involving PLA Air Force jets dropping flares in its flight path. Photo: Facebook / @ Alakdan Division
Jeoffrey Maitem
A recent incident involving Chinese air force actions in the South China Sea has intensified concerns in the Philippines that Beijing’s aggressive maritime tactics in the disputed territory could increasingly be used in the sky.
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Analysts said Manila must urgently establish clear rules of engagement and bolster its air force capabilities to manage potential future conflicts. However, they did not believe it would lead to the country invoking its Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) with the United States, as that might escalate the situation into a direct military conflict, which the treaty is meant to deter.

According to the Philippine military, one of their air force transport planes was on a maritime patrol on Thursday when People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force fighter jets reportedly performed “dangerous and offensive manoeuvres” close to the PAF aircraft and dropped eight flares in its path.

China justified its action on Saturday by saying the PAF aircraft had “illegally” entered the airspace of Huangyan Dao, the Chinese name for the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s term for the waters of the South China Sea that lie within its exclusive economic zone.

In a statement on Sunday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr denounced China’s action describing it as “unjustified, illegal and reckless”.

An FA-50 fighter jet parked on the tarmac at RAAF Darwin base in Australia on July 19. The Philippines Air Force sent its fighter jets to Australia to join a multinational war game as it seeks to boost fighter pilot training and expand its air force. Photo: Reuters
An FA-50 fighter jet parked on the tarmac at RAAF Darwin base in Australia on July 19. The Philippines Air Force sent its fighter jets to Australia to join a multinational war game as it seeks to boost fighter pilot training and expand its air force. Photo: Reuters

It was the first reported incident involving the PLA Air Force disrupting a PAF operation since Marcos assumed office in June 2022.

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