The BBC report includes a Chinese dispatcher telling an Australian aircraft to “leave immediately,” as it flew over international airspace.
The video shows China’s extensive construction efforts at Mischief Reef, including what appeared to be a factory and a runway capable of accommodating military aircraft.
China’s extensive artificial island-building in the South China Sea and its claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over what much of the world considers international waters have drawn stern rebukes from the United States and its allies during the past few years.
On Oct. 27, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Lassen conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation near Subi Reef, another Chinese artificial island, which drew protest from Beijing.
The BBC-chartered aircraft flew 140 nautical miles (about 160 miles) from Palawan Island in the Philippines until it came within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, according to the video.
“Foreign military aircraft in northwest of Meiji Reef, this is Chinese navy,” the Chinese dispatcher said over the radio. “You are threatening the security of our station. In order to avoid miscalculations, please stay away this area and leave immediately.”
“Chinese navy, we are a civilian single-engine aircraft carrying passengers to Palawan Island,” the BBC’s pilots replied.
The Chinese navy continued to send out the warning message, according to the report.
Video footage showed roughly 20 ships near the reef. Most of the ships appeared to be cargo craft, although two were warships, according to the report.
One of the ships bore a resemblance to a modern Chinese frigate, though it is difficult to tell from the camera’s distance.
Afterward, the Chinese dispatcher issued the same warning to another plane.
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