Manuel Mogato | September 8, 2026
MANILA — A Chinese J10 fighter had intercepted a Philippine surveillance plane over a disputed shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.
Retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told journalists a Philippine Air Force plane was on a routine maritime patrol when a Chinese fighter flew a few meters and prevented the surveillance plane from flying over Bajo de Masinloc.
Trinidad said this was the second time, since August, that a Chinese fighter intercepted a Philippine plane on a maritime domain awareness flight. (Also read: Philippines will continue ‘lawful’ activities near disputed shoal)
“On one instance, the crosshairs of the fighter aircraft had our aircraft on it,” Trinidad said.
He said Trinidad the latest incident was among the actions China was using to demonstrate control over the area, setting up an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in South China Sea. (Also read: China removes “floating platform” near Bajo de Masinloc)
Trinidad said the AFP will not be deterred by China’s harassment and intimidation, and would continue its action to fulfill its mandate to protect national interest.
“Our resolve to keep performing our mandate has never been stronger,” Trinidad added.
Trinidad said the Philippines would continue working with its long-time security ally, the United States, as well as other like-minded countries such as Japan and Australia to support international law in the region.
Bajo de Masinloc is only 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a strategic waterway, where more than $3 trillion trade passes every year.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have conflicting claims in the South China Sea, believed to have rich deposits of energy and mineral resources.
A decade ago. the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China, saying Beijing’s claims to historic rights over areas within the Philippines’ EEZ had “no legal basis.”
China has refused to recognize the ruling. Beijing has also not issued a statement on the recent incident, which raised tension in disputed waters. (Also read: On the Arbitral Ruling Anniversary, Continuing Chinese Aggression, and the ASEAN Dialogues)