The Philippines on Saturday accused China of firing flares at one of its patrol planes in the South China Sea, the latest chapter in an escalating island dispute between the two countries.
A Chinese fighter jet fired flares “several times” at “dangerously close range” to a Philippine civil patrol aircraft near Scarborough Reef on Aug. 19, the Philippine government said in a statement.
The same aircraft was targeted three days later by flares fired from the Chinese-controlled Subi Reef, she added, as the patrol aircraft was “monitoring and intercepting fishermen encroaching on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and territorial waters.”
The Philippine government on Saturday urged Beijing to “immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the security of Philippine ships and aircraft conducting legitimate operations in its territory and in the exclusive economic zone” of the Philippines.
“Such actions undermine regional peace and security and undermine the image of the People’s Republic of China in the eyes of the international community,” she added. Tensions between China and the Philippines have reached levels not seen in years in recent months.
Flares are usually ground-launched missiles launched from a ship or aircraft, to deflect infrared-guided missiles or to illuminate an area.
US Ambassador to Manila Mary Kay Carlson confirmed on the X website that her country “stands firmly” with Manila in “condemning” China’s firing of flares at its aircraft “operating perfectly legally near the Scarborough and Subi reefs.”
Beijing announced on Friday that it had taken “countermeasures” against Philippine aircraft accused of entering its airspace over the South China Sea.
The Foreign Ministry said China will continue to “resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly oppose any action that violates them.”
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands off the coasts of several neighboring countries, and has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
The Philippines had previously accused China of firing flares days ago at the path of a Philippine military plane that was patrolling over Scarborough Shoal, and denounced the dangerous maneuvers.