‘Chinese forces’ fire flares at PCG aircraft flying over West PH Sea

MANILA, Philippines — “Chinese forces” on Thursday afternoon fired flares at an unarmed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft patrolling the West Philippine Sea, in what an official called “a clear and deliberate act of bullying.”

Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the incident occurred at Panganiban (Mischief) Reef and Zamora Reef.

“This afternoon, in a clear and deliberate act of bullying, Chinese forces fired flares directly at a Philippine Coast Guard [Cessna type] Caravan aircraft while we were conducting routine maritime domain awareness flights over the Kalayaan Island Group,” Tarriela said in a statement.

“These reckless and aggressive actions by China represent yet another escalation in its campaign of intimidation and harassment. By targeting an unarmed PCG aircraft with flares, Beijing is not only violating established international aviation safety norms and the spirit of regional peace but is also directly endangering the lives of personnel on board,” he added.

Tarriela also said Chinese forces issued radio transmissions during the incident, “brazenly claiming ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over these areas.”

Last March 20, “Chinese forces” also fired flares at a PCG Cessna aircraft, according to an ABS-CBN report.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, but Manila brought the matter to an international court, which ruled in favor of its sovereign rights in 2016.

Panganiban Reef is inside the country’s exclusive economic zone but was seized by China from the Philippines in 1995.

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At first, China had just built octagonal huts there which it said was to cater to local fishermen, but it has since seen the emergence of artificial islands with military installations. /jpv