China on high alert after Philippines to acquire patrol planes

China today said it will go on "high alert" after the Philippines announced plans to acquire five Japanese planes to patrol the disputed South China Sea with Beijing warning Manila not to challenge its sovereignty over the waterway.
The Philippines will lease five aircraft from Japan to help patrol the South China Sea (SCS), President Benigno Aquino said yesterday.
"We have noticed relevant media reports. China resolutely opposes the Philippines' move if it aims to challenge China's sovereignty and security interests," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.
"Meanwhile, China will be on high alert for Japan's actions," Hong said asking Japan not to meddle in the South China Sea.

"I want to reiterate that Japan is not a party directly concerned with SCS dispute. We will remain on high alert on its actions and urge Japanese side to mind its words and actions and refrain from undermining peace and stability of the region", he said.
"As Japan is a non-claimant country in the SCS, China demands Japan be prudent in words and deeds and refrain from actions that jeopardise regional peace and stability," he said.

ThePhilippines along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan contest China's claims of sovereignty over almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea.
Chinese official media said Chinaand the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on a dual-track approach to resolve theSouth China Sea disputes.

The directly concerned states, namely China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia, will peacefully negotiate while China and ASEAN countries work together to maintain peace and stability in the region, state-run Xinhua news agency said.