File picture of Australian F-35A lightning fighter jets fly past during a joint exercise between Australian and Philippine troops at a naval base in San Antonio town, Zambales province on Aug 25, 2023. - AFP
BEIJING: China's defence ministry on Thursday (Nov 30) rejected a Philippine claim that Chinese fighter jets flew past joint patrols being conducted by the Philippines and Australia.
What the Philippines said is "groundless" and "not true", said a ministry spokesperson at a monthly press conference.
Manila said on Sunday that two Chinese fighter jets were seen "orbiting" a Philippine aircraft participating in patrols with Australia in the South China Sea but did not cause any untoward incident.
What the Philippines said is sheer "malicious" hype, the spokesperson said. - Reuters
