A Chinese J-15 fighter jet fighter intercepted and conducted dangerous maneuvers against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft near Bajo de Masinloc on Wednesday morning.

In a press briefing, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said PCG’s Caravan aircraft was conducting a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight to check Chinese presence after Monday’s incident in the area.

“Approximately, it came close as near as 500 feet. And for 20 minutes, it conducted dangerous maneuvers with such distance. And even above the aircraft of the Coast Guard aircraft at an approximate height of 200 feet,” Tarriela added.

PLAN vessel 553 issued a radio challenge to the PCG aircraft.

Tarriela said the PCG aircraft also monitored four China Coast Guard (CCG) ships with bow numbers 5303, 4202, 3502, and 5306 near Bajo de Masinloc.

Likewise, two United States Navy ships were also spotted in the area around 30 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc or 102 nautical miles from Zambales being tailed by PLAN vessel 568.

US 7th Fleet spokesperson Lieutenant Cody Milam said the USS Higgins (DDG 76) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near Scarborough Reef, consistent with international law.

“This freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) upheld the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China and Taiwan,” the spokesperson said.