Chinese armed trainer jets drive away Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal

AI Summary

China deployed armed trainer jets equipped with air-to-air missiles to drive away Philippine aircraft over the disputed Scarborough Shoal, escalating air confrontations in the South China Sea. The incident signals a tactical shift by China in the ongoing territorial dispute.

China sent armed trainer jets to drive away Philippine light aircraft over the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, in a potentially more cost-effective tactic for its increasingly frequent air confrontations over the South China Sea. At least three JL-10 trainers carrying PL-5 air-to-air missiles were involved in the incident over the shoal, according to a video clip posted to social media by the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command. The footage showed the Chinese jet’s...