By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE military could escort civilian air patrol missions over the disputed waters of the South China Sea, its military official said on Wednesday.

The Philippine Air Force is “capable” of providing air support to aircraft in “danger or distress,” Air Force spokesperson Ma. Consuelo N. Castillo said in a media briefing, but noted the type of air assets that could escort during Manila’s so-called routine maritime domain awareness flights depends on the top brass.

“Whenever we are called upon to deploy our air assets to support other aircraft operating, be it civilian aircraft or another military aircraft, the air force is capable… if called upon,” she added.

“Our aircraft, our helicopters are capable of ship deck operations. So, if there’s an available ship where our aircraft can safely land… those operations are possible.”

A Chinese navy helicopter last week flew close to a Philippine government aircraft conducting surveillance over Scarborough Shoal, a move that resulted in Manila accusing China of “unprofessional and reckless” flight actions.

This prompted Manila to file a diplomatic protest against Beijing after the incident, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter flew as close as three meters to the aircraft, which the Philippine Coast Guard said was a “clear violation and blatant disregard” of aviation regulations.

Beijing disputed the Philippines’ account last week, saying its aircraft “illegally intruded” into China’s airspace and accused its Southeast Asian neighbor of “spreading false narratives.”

“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will not go down to the level of illegal actions when confronted with actions that are illegal, that are coercive,” Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent T. Trinidad said in the same briefing.

Manila has accused China’s coast guard of aggression within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while Beijing is furious over what it calls repeated provocations and territorial incursions.

The Philippines and China have been at loggerheads over disputed features in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. A United Nations-backed tribunal based in The Hague in 2016 voided China’s claim for being illegal.

“The actions of the PLA Navy to endanger the life of the BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) personnel is unacceptable,” Mr. Trinidad added.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a Viber message seeking comment.

The Philippine military could still respond to security issues in the South China Sea without the need to be within “close-quarter proximity,” Xerxes A. Trinidad, chief of the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, said in the same briefing.

“Our AFP assets need not be in close-quarter proximity for us to deliver our weapon system and neutralize any possible targets or enemy… We can respond, and we will respond accordingly.”

Navy’s Mr. Trinidad said they would provide an update on China’s presence in the country’s EEZ next week. “We’ll have that next Tuesday so that we could give the entire picture for the month of February.”

Deploying military aircrafts for air surveillance missions could increase tensions with China, according to Josue Raphael J. Cortez, who teaches diplomacy at the De La Salle College of St. Benilde.

“This proposition to escort civilian agencies in undertaking air surveillance missions will undoubtedly propel the tensions transpiring presently in the South China Sea,” he said in a Facebook chat. “China will view it as a way of our troops impeding on what they consider and claim as theirs.”

“This may be a security dilemma of sorts for China… and we can expect that it will also undertake such operations to counter and induce fear in our troops,” he added.

Also on Tuesday, the Navy official said the US’ exemption of defense assistance to the Philippines is a “very much welcome development,” saying it would help fund security programs and activities on the “sea, air and land,” including military support systems.

US President Donald J. Trump’s government would continue its $336-million security aid to the Philippines, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Trump earlier ordered a 90-day pause on existing and new foreign development assistance packages pending review to ensure its alignment within his “America First” policy.

Navy’s Mr. Trinidad said the procurement pipeline for military hardware is not lodged under the multi-million security aid. “It’s a different platform when it comes to the equipment.”