Latest China flare harassment condemned

MANILA, Philippines — The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) yesterday called on China to “immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions” after the Chinese shot flares at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane conducting maritime patrol over Zamora (Subi) Reef last Thursday.

The Aug. 22 incident is the third time that China harassed Philippine civilian and military aircraft in a span of 15 days.

The BFAR aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was conducting a routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight on Thursday when “the PRC (People’s Republic of China) unjustifiably deployed flares from Zamora Reef” – which is within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island.

Three days earlier, on Aug. 19, the same BFAR plane faced harassment from a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter jet 63270 near Panatag Shoal.

The Chinese jet engaged in irresponsible and dangerous maneuvers, deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance of 15 meters from the BFAR plane.

On Aug. 8, two PLAAF fighter planes also dropped flares on the flight path of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) NC-212i aircraft patrolling the skies of Panatag Shoal.

“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 (EEZ) and the right of all vessels and aircraft exercising freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” the NTF-WPS said.

“Such actions undermine regional peace and security, and further erode the image of the PRC with the international community. The Philippines remains steadfast in exercising its rights to strengthen maritime domain awareness within our sovereign territory, national airspace and EEZ, as well as in the high seas, in accordance with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” it stressed.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has also denounced the incidents and has called on China to stop what it is doing while reassuring the public that the military will not be deterred and will continue to patrol and protect the country’s rights in the WPS.

‘Cease provocative actions’

For its part, the United States once again joined the Philippines yesterday in condemning China’s latest acts of using flares to twice harass a Philippine aircraft in the WPS.

“The US stands firmly with the Philippines in condemning the PRC for launching flares at Philippine aircraft operating legally near Scarborough and Subi Reefs (on) Aug. 19 and 22,” US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in a post on X.

“With the Philippines, we call on the PRC to cease provocative and dangerous actions that undermine a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she added.

The US has been among the many nations that has consistently denounced China’s aggressive behavior in the WPS inside the EEZ of the Philippines.

Deep concern

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada expressed deep concern and condemned in the strongest terms the firing of flares by China at a BFAR aircraft conducting a lawful mission over Zamora Reef.

Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on nation defense, said “such actions are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative.”

“Deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance is neither professional, restrained nor standardized, contrary to China’s claims. It’s irresponsible, a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to the safety of our personnel. It could have led to serious harm or even loss of lives,” he added. — Ghio Ong, Cecille Suerte Felipe