A lighthouse on China's Zhubi Jiao. Photo: VCG

The Philippines' recent hype of Chinese side firing flares at a Philippine plane is distorting facts, and the Philippine aircraft was the one that attempted to intrude into Chinese airspace and caused maritime and aerial safety risks, an expert said on Monday.

Citing the Philippine coast guard, the AP claimed on Sunday that Chinese forces fired three flares from Zhubi Jiao toward a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft of the Philippine fisheries bureau during a "routine patrol."

The AP report noted that it was not immediately clear how far the flares were from the Philippine aircraft.

A Chinese navy ship also issued radio warnings against the Philippine aircraft when it flew near China's Xianbin Jiao, the Philippine coast guard claimed, per the AP report.

The Chinese side has not responded to or confirmed the Philippine claims as of press time.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Monday that China has indisputable sovereignty over Zhubi Jiao and Xianbin Jiao. It was the Philippine aircraft that attempted to intrude into Chinese airspace, and the Chinese countermeasures were legitimate and restrained.

The Philippine aircraft's close-in patrol on Chinese islands and reefs also created risks for maritime and aerial accidents, and it is the Philippines that should be responsible for this, Wang said.

In response to reports that Philippine public vessels intruded into waters adjacent to islands and reefs of China's Nansha Qundao, and its reconnaissance aircraft intruded into territorial airspace over China's Huangyan Dao, and that the Philippine side claimed that China's corresponding operations threatened the safety of its crew, vessels and aircraft, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said at a regular press conference on October 30 that China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and its adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. For a period of time, the Philippine side has launched frequent infringements and provocations against China, stirring up troubles at sea. It has attempted to make waves at sea by soliciting external support, blackmailing and pressuring China through bluffing acts that resembles the fox borrowing the tiger's terror. It has also kept spreading false information to smear China and mislead the public.

The Chinese side will firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests with legitimate, legal, professional and prudent actions to protect our rights, Zhang said.