Manila: The Philippine presidency has allayed fears about the presence of Chinese military aircraft in Davao City recently, saying the short visit followed protocols.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement there was nothing unusual about the presence of a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aeroplane in the southern Philippine city on June 8.
“As per records of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines [CAAP], the Chinese aircraft made a technical stop in Davao City on June 8 for mere refuelling. Relevant government agencies closely coordinated for the aircraft’s refuelling, which followed established procedures,” he said.
The internet had been abuzz in recent days over the unexpected presence of the aircraft, a Ilyushin-76 strategic airlifter, especially since government had not announced its presence until pictures were posted in photo and video sharing sites.
An aircraft enthusiast’s organisation, the Philippine Plane Spotters was reported to have posted photos of the Ilyushin.
But the palace said the apparent unofficial visit of the Chinese military plane is not something out of the ordinary.
“There is nothing unusual with the landing and refuelling of a PLAAF Ilyushin-76 turbofan strategic airlifter in Davao City last June 8,” Roque said.
Department of National Defence (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines routinely extended the same courtesy to aircraft from other countries.
“Other countries do that, the Americans also make a landing here to refuel,” he added.
But even veteran security officials such as Senator Panfilo Lacson aired concerns over the incident.
Reports quoted him as saying that granting landing permission to foreign aircraft was risky.
“What if, a hundred Chinese military aircraft suddenly request to refuel simultaneously in NAIA, Mactan Airport, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Clark? We might all wake up a colony again, this time by China,” he reportedly said.
There had been increasing concerns over the apparent closeness of the current government under President Rodrigo Duterte with China.
Some, like Senator Leila de Lima said the Philippines may be getting too close for comfort with a neighbour which it is entangled in a territorial dispute.
De Lima likewise asked her colleagues at the Senate to investigate the reported influx of Chinese nationals to the Philippines.
She said Chinese nationals consistently comprised most of the Alien Employment Permit holders from 2013 to 2016 — growing to 45 per cent (18,920) in 2016 from 23.7 per cent in 2013.
