CHINESE armed trainer jets locked their radar systems onto three Philippine aircraft during an encounter over the disputed Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on Sept. 2, in a potentially significant escalation in China’s increasingly frequent air confrontations with Philippine aircraft in the South China Sea.
The incident was disclosed over the weekend by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, which released video showing at least three JL-10 advanced trainer jets armed with live PL-5 short-range air-to-air missiles conducting what it described as a readiness patrol around the shoal.
The footage showed the Chinese aircraft’s electronic systems identifying and tracking three Philippine aircraft — a BN-2A Islander utility aircraft, a C-208 single-engine turboprop and a PA-31T twin-engine turboprop. A green targeting crosshair was shown tracking one of the Philippine aircraft.
The PLA Southern Theatre Command said its forces had been conducting readiness patrols around what China calls Huangyan Dao since August, describing the operations as a means of strengthening control over the surrounding sea areas and airspace and countering what it called rights violations and provocative acts.
The PLA video also showed a J-16 multirole fighter and an H-6K bomber, along with Chinese naval vessels, indicating the presence of heavier military assets.
The Sept. 2 encounter came after the Philippines used the same types of light aircraft in an aerial patrol also over Bajo de Masinloc on Aug. 21.
China’s use of armed trainer jets places the encounter in a different category from a routine surveillance flight, particularly because the aircraft were shown carrying live air-to-air missiles and locking their systems onto Philippine aircraft.
Bajo de Masinloc has remained a major flashpoint between Manila and Beijing. China has controlled access to the shoal since 2012 and maintains that it has sovereignty over the feature.
The Philippines rejects China’s claim and continues to conduct maritime and aerial activities in the area.
