Philippine airplane-tracking system called 'illegal'

The civilian flight-tracking system that the Philippines plans to install in the South China Sea will be illegal, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

It also said Manila is inflaming tensions to serve a hidden agenda by accusing China of sending radio messages to commercial Philippine planes flying toward a Chinese island.

"The allegations from the Philippines are intentionally inflaming regional tensions with a concealed purpose," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.