Philippines may lodge protest with China after military planes are seen in Spratly Islands
Photos showing two transport aircraft landing on Mischief Reef could be sign Beijing is growing more assertive in disputed waterway, analysts say
Manila may lodge a protest with Beijing after two Chinese military planes reportedly landed on an artificial island within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, the country’s top diplomat said on Wednesday.
Regional analysts said that the move showed Beijing was growing more assertive in the disputed waterway.
The transport planes, believed to be Xian Y-7s, were seen landing on a ramp near Runway 21 on Mischief Reef, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on Wednesday, citing surveillance photographs taken in January obtained from a source.
China built the artificial island at the gas-rich atoll in the disputed Spratly Islands in 2015. The reef is the closest of China’s artificial islands to the Philippines, and lies within its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters that the defence and military establishments had been asked to confirm the presence of the aircraft, after which the Philippines could ask China to explain it.
“Filing a protest is one of the diplomatic actions being considered, pending a confirmation from the defence department,” Cayetano said, adding that the Philippines had proposed claimants reverse defence enhancements in the Spratly Islands.
