SYDNEY (AFP) — Isang Australian military surveillance plane ang lumipad malapit sa pinag-aagawang lugar sa South China Sea, lumutang noong Miyerkules, at narinig na nagbabala ang crew sa Chinese navy na ito para sa freedom of navigation mission.
“A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion was conducting a routine maritime patrol in the region as part of Operation Gateway from November 25 to December 4,” sinabi ng tagapagsalita ng defence department sa AFP.
“Under Operation Gateway, the Australian Defence Force conducts routine maritime surveillance patrols in the North Indian Ocean and South China Sea as a part of Australia’s enduring contribution to the preservation of regional security and stability in Southeast Asia.”
Ito ay kasunod ng paglabas ng British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) noong Martes ng gabi ng audio sa reporting assignment sa Spratly archipelago.
Misa ng Santo Papa dinumog, halos kalahati ng populasyon ng East Timor, dumalo
Umupa ang BBC ng isang maliit na eroplano mula sa Pilipinas upang kunan ng video ang mga nilikhang isla ng China at subukan kung sisitahin sila ng Chinese navy.
Ayon sa BBC, ilang beses silang binalaan ng mga Chinese sa radio communication na “you are threatening the security of our station”.
