Philippines Plane Threatened by Chinese Flares

The Philippine government has accused China of engaging in dangerous maneuvers against its aircraft during recent patrols over the South China Sea. On August 19, a Chinese fighter jet reportedly fired flares dangerously close—approximately 15 meters— to a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane conducting a maritime awareness flight near Scarborough Shoal. This incident was followed by another flare launch from the China-held Subi Reef on August 22, as the BFAR aircraft monitored poachers in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. In response, China's foreign ministry claimed that two Philippine military aircraft had entered its airspace over Subi Reef on the same day, asserting that necessary countermeasures were taken to protect its sovereignty. Notably, the Chinese statement did not address the August 19 incident at Scarborough Shoal, which has been a point of contention since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. The recent flare incidents occurred shortly after a collision between Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels near Sabina Shoal, resulting in reported damage to the Filipino ships. The Philippines has also reported previous aggressive actions by Chinese forces, including a dangerous maneuver by a Chinese air force plane on August 10. Manila has urged Beijing to cease all provocative actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft, emphasizing that such behavior undermines regional peace and security and damages China's international reputation.