PAF AIRCRAFT, HINARAS NG CHINA

HINDI pa man nareresolba ang pananakit ng Chinese Coast Guard sa mga Philippine Navy servicemen na bahagi ng resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal noong Hunyo, muling nagpamalas ng pagiging siga ang bansang China matapos “paputukan” ang isang eroplano ng Philippine Air Force sa loob ng 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.

Ayon kay Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., nagpaputok ng flare ang People’s Liberation Army Air Force ng China sa landas ng isang Philippine Air Force aircraft na nagpapatrolya sa ibabaw sa Panatag Shoal noong ika-8 ng Agosto.

Para kay Brawner, lubhang mapangahas ang ginawa ng People’s Liberation Army.

“Their act endangered the lives of our personnel undertaking maritime security operations recently within Philippine maritime zones,” wika ni Brawner.

“The incident posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation,” dugtong pa ng AFP chief

Alam na rin aniya ng Department of Foreign Affairs at mga kaugnay na ahensya ng gobyerno ang naturang insidente.

“We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS and the Chicago Convention.”