PLA urges Philippines to stop rights violations and provocative acts

The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Monday that the Philippines illegally intruded into China's territorial airspace and that it has warned the Philippine side to immediately cease its rights violations and provocative acts.

Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the theater command, said in a statement that a Philippine C-208 aircraft illegally intruded into the territorial airspace over China's Huangyan Dao without approval from the Chinese government on Saturday.

The naval and air forces dispatched by the theater command tracked and monitored the Philippine aircraft and issued warnings to expel it in accordance with laws and regulations, said Zhai.

Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory, the spokesperson said.

The Philippine side's actions seriously violate China's sovereignty and are "highly likely" to cause unintended maritime and air incidents, he added.

"We sternly warn the Philippine side to stop rights violations and provocative acts immediately," said Zhai.

Forces of the theater command remain on high alert at all times to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability, the spokesperson added.