MANILA. A Philippine fisheries bureau plane conducting a routine patrol in the contested South China Sea came under threat when flares were fired from a Chinese island base, according to Philippine officials on Saturday. The incident marks the latest flare-up in the ongoing territorial disputes between Beijing and Manila, with tensions now extending from the disputed waters to the airspace above.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was conducting a surveillance mission on Thursday near Subi Reef, an area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that has been transformed by China into a heavily militarized island. While on patrol, the Philippine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan observed flares being launched from the reef, an act perceived as a threat by the crew on board. The Philippine government’s interagency task force confirmed the incident but did not provide further details on the proximity of the flares to the aircraft or whether the patrol was completed as planned.
This event follows another incident on August 19, when the same Philippine fisheries plane was reportedly “harassed” by a Chinese fighter jet near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The task force reported that the Chinese jet performed “irresponsible and dangerous maneuvers,” releasing flares within a dangerously close distance of approximately 15 meters (50 feet) from the Philippine aircraft. “The Chinese fighter jet was not provoked, yet its actions demonstrated hazardous intent that jeopardized the safety of the personnel onboard the BFAR aircraft,” the task force stated, which includes representatives from the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Chinese authorities have not yet commented on these latest incidents. However, they have previously accused Philippine vessels and aircraft of encroaching on what Beijing claims as its territory in the South China Sea.
“We firmly reiterate our call on the government of the People’s Republic of China to immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate and regular activities within Philippine territory and exclusive economic zone,” the Philippine task force declared. “Such actions undermine regional peace and security and further erode the image of the PRC with the international community.”
The United States, a long-standing ally of the Philippines, also condemned China’s actions. U.S. Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson released a statement urging China to halt its provocative behavior. “We call on the PRC to cease provocative and dangerous actions that undermine a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said, echoing growing international concern over China’s aggressive stance in the region.
In a related incident on August 8, two Chinese jets reportedly flew dangerously close to a Philippine air force patrol plane near Scarborough Shoal, firing a volley of flares. This encounter was the first of its kind since tensions between Beijing and Manila escalated in 2023. Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. condemned the Chinese actions, warning of the potentially catastrophic consequences. “If the flares came into contact with our aircraft, these could have been blown into the propeller or the intake or burned our plane,” Brawner explained to reporters.
In response, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army accused the Philippine aircraft of illegally entering airspace over Scarborough Shoal, disrupting China’s military training exercises. The command stated that Chinese forces were deployed to “identify, track and drive away the Philippine aircraft,” and warned Manila to “stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hyping-up.”
The South China Sea remains a flashpoint for regional and international tensions, with similar confrontations reported by the United States, Australia, and Canada. These nations, which have deployed forces to the area to promote freedom of navigation and overflight, have also faced aggressive maneuvers by Chinese aircraft. Beijing has criticized these military deployments as a threat to regional security, further complicating the already volatile situation in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
