A Chinese voice on the radio sternly ordered, “Leave now,” when a Philippine Coast Guard jet carrying journalists flew over the Spratly Islands in the bitterly disputed South China Sea.
PH urged to call out China’s non-stop construction in Spratlys.
The order came from a radio operator on a Chinese coast guard vessel 3,500 feet (1,066 metres) below — one of dozens of ships seen prowling the waters.
The Philippines, China, and numerous other countries have rival claims to dozens of tiny islands and reefs, and AFP was one of several media groups granted the rare opportunity to fly over some of these locations on Thursday.
States must “sit down,” according to a former arbitrator, regarding the South China Sea dispute.
Beijing ignores a judgement from an international court that says its claims lack legal support and asserts sovereignty over practically the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands.
The archipelago’s reef has been destroyed during the past ten years to make room for militarized islands with runways, ports, and radar systems.
Many Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels monitor the waters, swarming reefs and harassing and attacking fishing and other boats in an effort to bolster their claims.
Also, they make an effort to ban non-Chinese aircraft from the area above.
“You have entered (the water around) a Chinese reef and constituted a security threat. To avoid misunderstanding, leave immediately,” the Chinese radio operator stated, in one of seven warnings broadcast in Chinese and English as the coast guard jet flew over a Philippine-occupied island and shoal.
They were flying above Philippine airspace, the Filipino pilot responded.
