An aerial drone photo taken on May 2, 2026 shows reefs in the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)The PLA Southern Theater Command said on Friday that three Philippine aircraft illegally entered China's territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without approval, prompting Chinese naval and air forces to track, monitor and issue verbal warnings to the aircraft.
On Friday, three small Philippine aircraft - an Islander, a C-208, and a PA-31T - illegally intruded into China's territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without approval from the Chinese government. The naval and air forces dispatched by the PLA Southern Theater Command (STC) tracked and monitored the Philippine aircraft, and issued verbal warnings to them in accordance with laws and regulations, senior Colonel Li Jianjian, spokesperson for the PLA STC Air Force, said in a statement on Friday.
The acts of the Philippine side seriously violate China's sovereignty, and are highly likely to cause misunderstanding and miscalculation. "We sternly warn the Philippine side to stop rights-violation and provocative acts immediately. Forces of the STC remain on high alert at all times to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability," said the spokesperson.
Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Issues at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, called the Philippines' latest move another "stunt."
The Philippines previously submitted its so-called "territorial sea baselines" around Huangyan Dao, so it is not unexpected that Manila would follow up with actions at sea or in the air to stir up tensions, keep the issue in the spotlight and stage further provocations, said Ding.
At present, the Philippines can barely gain access to the relevant waters and has secured no tangible advantage there. Aircraft, however, can enter and leave the area quickly. Such operations not only provide material for media hype but also generate footage of China's response, allowing Manila to project resolve and reassure its military and law-enforcement forces at home, Ding told the Global Times.
In late July, the Philippines notified the United Nations of the so-called "baselines and maritime zones" surrounding Huangyan Dao. On July 31, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the Philippines' delimitation of the so-called "baselines of the territorial sea" around Huangyan Dao, calling the move "a grave infringement upon China's territorial sovereignty and a serious violation of international law."
"It is illegal, null and void. China firmly rejects and will never accept it," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Manila appears emboldened by growing security and defense cooperation with the US and Japan. Backed by these external partners, the Philippines has shown greater willingness to stage provocations, while its military and law-enforcement forces have displayed increasingly risk-prone and opportunistic behavior, said Ding.
China has exercised considerable restraint over the Huangyan Dao, but the Philippines should not mistake that restraint for weakness. If China were to employ the full range of available measures, Philippine aircraft would likewise be denied access to the area, said Ding.
By dispatching small aircraft for deliberate provocations, the Philippines is further increasing the risk of miscalculation. Such aerial incursions are highly unpredictable and carry serious escalation risks. If China responds with resolute or more forceful measures to defend its rights and an unintended incident occurs as a result, the Philippines should bear full responsibility for the consequences, the expert warned.
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