China Coast Guard expelled Philippine aircraft after airspace incursion

China Coast Guard said it expelled a Philippine aircraft that breached the airspace over China's Huangyan Island in the South China Sea on Thursday.

The CCG spokesman Liu Dejun said in a statement on Friday that a Philippine C-208 aircraft illegally entered the airspace over Huangyan Island without permission from the Chinese government.

The CCG closely monitored the situation, warned and drove the aircraft away in accordance with the law, he said.

Liu said that Huangyan Island is an inherent part of China's territory, stressing that the Philippine action "has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty, posing an extremely high risk of maritime and aerial incidents".

"We solemnly warn the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringement and provocations," he said.