China says it warned off Philippine aircraft over South China Sea island

China's military said Tuesday it warned off and expelled a Philippine C-208 aircraft that had entered airspace over a South China Sea island.

Tian Junli, spokesman for the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command, said in a statement that the Philippine aircraft illegally entered airspace over Huangyan Island without China's permission.

The command dispatched naval and air forces to track, monitor, warn, and expel the aircraft, Tian said, accusing the Philippines of distorting facts and spreading false narratives about the incident.

"The actions of the Philippine side seriously infringe on China's sovereignty and severely violate international law and relevant Chinese laws and regulations," Tian said.

He reiterated China's sovereignty of the island, calling it "an inherent part of China's territory".

He accused the Philippines of using military provocations to press its claims and attempting to "mislead international perception through hype and propaganda."

The theater command said its forces remain on high alert to defend China's sovereignty and security and to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.