Istanbul - Tensions in the air between China and the Philippines escalated as Beijing on Friday reported another incident in the disputed waters of the South China Sea (SCS).
According to China's Defense Ministry, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command issued a warning and expelled two Philippine C-208 aircraft and an N-22 aircraft that had "entered the airspace" over an island in the South China Sea on Thursday (20/2).
Tian Junli, a spokesman for the command, said a Philippine C-208 aircraft "illegally entered Chinese airspace over Huangyan Island" in the SCS and "changed altitude several times."
Huangyan Island is also known as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
"In just 218 seconds, the aircraft descended 920 meters (3,018 feet) in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, deliberately crossing the altitude of normal patrol helicopters, thereby creating a high risk of maritime and air incidents," Tian said.
Manila has not responded to Beijing's statement on the incident.