China Expels Philippine Aircraft “Intruding” into Huangyan Dao

China has accused the Philippines of illegally intruding into airspace near Huangyan Dao, escalating tensions in the South China Sea days after Manila announced a new offshore gas find.

Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said a Philippine government aircraft entered the territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without Chinese approval. He said Chinese navy and air force units were dispatched to warn and expel the aircraft “in accordance with law and regulations.”

Tian said the action “severely infringed upon China’s sovereignty” and violated Chinese and international law, adding that Huangyan Dao is China’s “inherent territory.” He urged the Philippines to stop what he called provocations and “irresponsible hype.”

The accusation came shortly after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a new offshore gas discovery near the Malampaya field off Palawan. The reservoir, estimated at about 98 billion cubic feet of gas, could supply electricity to more than 5.7 million households, with initial tests showing potential output of 60 million cubic feet per day.

“This helps Malampaya’s contribution and strengthens our domestic gas supply for many years to come,” Marcos said, adding the find also includes condensate, which is a high-value liquid fuel.

The deposit, Malampaya East 1, lies about 5 km east of the main Malampaya field, which supplies over 20% of Luzon’s electricity from more than two decades. The site is within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea and has opposed oil and gas exploration by the Philippines in areas such as Reed Bank, as well as similar activities by Vietnam. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims, while Beijing has increased coast guard and naval patrols across the disputed waterway in recent years.