The Philippine government has accused China of firing flares at one of its aircraft during a South China Sea patrol.
On August 19, a Chinese fighter jet reportedly deployed flares dangerously close—around 15 meters—from a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Grand Caravan aircraft. The BFAR plane was conducting a maritime domain awareness flight near Scarborough Shoal, a site of ongoing tension between the two nations.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea described the incident as “irresponsible and dangerous,” adding that additional flares were launched near the same plane from the China-held Subi Reef on August 22. This incident occurred while the BFAR aircraft was monitoring poachers in Philippine waters. Flares are typically used by military aircraft to deflect missiles or for illumination.
In response, China's foreign ministry claimed that two Philippine military aircraft entered its airspace over Subi Reef on August 22, prompting "necessary countermeasures" to protect Chinese sovereignty. The Chinese statement did not mention the August 19 incident near Scarborough Shoal, which is situated 140 kilometers west of the Philippine island of Palawan.
The Philippines has recently faced increasing tensions with China, including a collision between coast guard vessels near Sabina Shoal that resulted in damage to Filipino patrol ships. The Philippines also reported an earlier flare incident on August 10, when a Chinese air force plane reportedly engaged in dangerous maneuvers near a Filipino air force plane over Scarborough Shoal.
In response to these provocations, Manila has called on Beijing to cease actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft. The Philippine government argues that such provocations undermine regional peace and security and harm China’s international standing.
This latest development underscores the continuing and escalating disputes in the South China Sea, where China’s claims are widely disputed despite an international tribunal ruling against them.
On August 19, a Chinese fighter jet reportedly deployed flares dangerously close—around 15 meters—from a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Grand Caravan aircraft. The BFAR plane was conducting a maritime domain awareness flight near Scarborough Shoal, a site of ongoing tension between the two nations.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea described the incident as “irresponsible and dangerous,” adding that additional flares were launched near the same plane from the China-held Subi Reef on August 22. This incident occurred while the BFAR aircraft was monitoring poachers in Philippine waters. Flares are typically used by military aircraft to deflect missiles or for illumination.
In response, China's foreign ministry claimed that two Philippine military aircraft entered its airspace over Subi Reef on August 22, prompting "necessary countermeasures" to protect Chinese sovereignty. The Chinese statement did not mention the August 19 incident near Scarborough Shoal, which is situated 140 kilometers west of the Philippine island of Palawan.
The Philippines has recently faced increasing tensions with China, including a collision between coast guard vessels near Sabina Shoal that resulted in damage to Filipino patrol ships. The Philippines also reported an earlier flare incident on August 10, when a Chinese air force plane reportedly engaged in dangerous maneuvers near a Filipino air force plane over Scarborough Shoal.
In response to these provocations, Manila has called on Beijing to cease actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft. The Philippine government argues that such provocations undermine regional peace and security and harm China’s international standing.
This latest development underscores the continuing and escalating disputes in the South China Sea, where China’s claims are widely disputed despite an international tribunal ruling against them.
