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| Subi Reef is part of the Spratly islands, a chain of outcroppings in South China Sea claimed by the |
Aircraft allegedly
ordered to leave as official says China
is poised to take "de facto control" of the South
China Sea .
The Islander
aircraft was flying over Subi Reef on April 19 when a Chinese vessel radioed a
warning, Brigadier-General Joselito Kakilala, a Philippine military
spokesperson, said on Sunday.
The Chinese told
the plane it was in Chinese territory and ordered it to leave, Kakilala said.
"But our
pilots ignored the challenge because of the DOC despite [the plane being]
within our territory and they reported the incident to our superiors," he
said in a statement to AFP news agency.
The DOC, or
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea - signed by China , the Philippines
and other Southeast Asian nations in 2002 - binds the signatories not to resort
to violence to settle their disputes over the South China
Sea .
Subi Reef is part
of the Spratly islands, a chain of outcroppings in the South China Sea, parts
of which are claimed by China, the Philippines as well as Brunei, Malaysia,
Vietnam and Taiwan.
In recent years,
the Philippines has become more vocal in accusing China of aggressiveness in
pressing its claims to the South China Sea, a vital sea lane and fishing ground
that is believed to hold vast mineral resources.
In recent weeks,
Philippine officials have accused the Chinese of using water cannon and even
stealing the catch and fishing gear of Philippine fishermen.
Benigno Aquino, president of the Philippines ,
is expected to bring up these concerns at the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur
on Monday.
Albert del Rosario,
Philippine foreign minister, has already warned that China is poised to take "de facto
control" of the South China Sea .
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