The People’s Liberation Army of China has intercepted and expelled multiple Philippine military aircraft that entered the airspace above Huangyan Island, according to an official statement released on December 12, 2025. The incident marks the latest escalation in ongoing territorial tensions between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Chinese defense authorities characterized the Philippine aircraft’s presence as an illegal intrusion into sovereign Chinese airspace. Military spokespersons emphasized that the PLA responded with professional aerial interception protocols to safeguard national territorial integrity.
Huangyan Island, known internationally as Scarborough Shoal, has been a persistent flashpoint in China-Philippine relations. The coral reef formation situated in the South China Sea’s strategic waterways has been under Chinese control since 2012, though Manila continues to assert its territorial claims based on geographical proximity and exclusive economic zone rights under international maritime law.
The confrontation occurs against the backdrop of increasing regional military activity and heightened diplomatic exchanges regarding maritime boundaries. Chinese officials reiterated their commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes while simultaneously affirming their determination to protect territorial sovereignty through appropriate defensive measures.
Regional security analysts note that such aerial intercepts have become increasingly common as claimant states enhance their military patrol capabilities over disputed waters. The incident follows recent diplomatic efforts to establish communication mechanisms between Chinese and Philippine defense authorities to prevent accidental escalations.