Chinese J-16 in dangerous intercept of Philippine Grand Caravan

Manila condemns the unsafe behavior of Chinese aircrew.
Chinese military aircraft, including a Shenyang J-16, were involved in a dangerous intercept of a Philippine aircraft.

The incident occurred on 3 October when a Philippine air force Cessna C-208B Grand Caravan was conducting a routine patrol over Scarborough Shoal, which lies off the west coast of the main Philippine island of Luzon, according to a statement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Two aircraft were involved in the unsafe intercept, with at least one identified as a J-16.

“During the encounter, the J-16 repeatedly approached and manoeuvred in close proximity to the Philippine aircraft, including maneuvering ahead of and around it and positioning itself with the Philippine aircraft’s wake,” says the AFP.

“These maneuveres posed an aviation safety risk.”

It adds that the Philippine aircrew “remained professional” and was able to complete its maritime patrol mission without further incident.

In defiance of international law, Beijing has laid claim to virtually the entire South China Sea – which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea. It has also transformed several atolls into extensive military bases.

Beijing has not built a base on Scarborough Shoal itself, but it has deployed floating platforms to the area, which Manila views suspiciously.

While the AFP did not produce photographic of video evidence of the dangerous intercept, the incident is the latest in a long history of dangerous intercepts by Chinese fighter pilots.

Aircraft operated by Australia, the Philippines, and the USA have all been subject to dangerous intercepts in international airspace above the South China Sea in recent years.

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