Chinese military expels Philippine aircraft from Huangyan Dao airspace

BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Saturday expelled a Philippine C-208 aircraft that illegally intruded into the territorial airspace over China's Huangyan Dao without approval from the Chinese government, a spokesperson said Monday.

Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, said the command dispatched naval and air forces to track and monitor the aircraft and issued warnings to expel it in accordance with laws and regulations.

Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory, and acts by the Philippine side seriously violate China's sovereignty and are highly likely to cause unintended maritime and air incidents, Zhai said.

"We sternly warn the Philippine side to stop rights violations and provocative acts immediately," Zhai said, adding that forces of the theater command remain on high alert at all times to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.