PH military says ‘close encounter’ with China fighter plane near Bajo de Masinloc 

Two Chinese planes, including a J-16 fighter aircraft, had a 'close encounter' with a Philippine military plane

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday, October 4, confirmed a “close encounter” between a small military plane and two Chinese aircraft, including what they confirmed was a J-16 fighter aircraft, during an October 3 maritime patrol in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. 

In a statement Sunday afternoon, the AFP said one of its C-208 aircraft was conducting a maritime patrol in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal when the J-16 fighter plane “repeatedly approached and maneuvered in close proximity to the Philippine aircraft, including maneuvering ahead of and around it and positioning itself within the Philippine aircraft’s wake.”

“These maneuvers posed an aviation safety risk,” said the AFP. 

“This incident is part of a recurring pattern of unsafe and coercive behavior against Philippine government vessels and aircraft conducting lawful operations. The AFP will continue to document and expose such actions that place Philippine personnel and assets at unnecessary risk,” said the military. 

Bajo de Masinloc is a high-tide elevation just over 124 nautical miles from Zambales, a province in Luzon. While it is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), access to the shoal has been controlled by China since 2012, following a standoff between Manila and Beijing. The two countries claim sovereignty over the shoal. 

Controlling the shoal has meant that out at sea, Chinese maritime forces routinely harass Philippine vessels and aircraft that approach Bajo de Masinloc. Similar incidents have happened to Philippine government vessels and aircraft belonging to its civilian maritime agencies.  

No casualties were reported from the incident and the Philippine plane still completed its mission. “The AFP will continue to conduct routine maritime and air patrols in the West Philippine Sea. The AFP remains vigilant and will continue to prioritize the safety of its personnel and aircraft while carrying out its mandate,” added the AFP. 

Bilateral ties between the Philippines and China have mostly been tense since 2012 over disputes in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark Arbitral Award that affirmed its EEZ in the West Philippine Sea and deemed China’s supposed historical claim over the South China Sea invalid. Beijing does not recognize the decision. 

The tribunal could not determine sovereignty claims, including over features like Bajo de Masinloc. It did, however, say that since the shoal was a historical fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Taiwanese fisherfolk, small-scale fishing should not be impeded, no matter who has sovereignty over the shoal. – Rappler.com