Philippines Accuses China of Firing Flares

The Philippines has called on China to "cease all provocative and dangerous actions" following allegations that Chinese forces fired at Philippine aircraft conducting patrols over the South China Sea. The Philippine South China Sea Task Force reported that a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft faced harassment from a Chinese jet fighter during a surveillance flight near Scarborough Shoal on August 19. These incidents have heightened tensions between the two nations, raising concerns about potential conflict that could involve the United States, a military ally of the Philippines. The task force emphasized that the actions of the Chinese jet, which deployed flares dangerously close to the BFAR aircraft, posed a threat to the safety of personnel onboard. The Philippine aircraft were engaged in monitoring and intercepting poachers within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it had taken "countermeasures" against two Philippine military aircraft that entered its airspace over Subi Reef on August 22, but did not address the earlier incident involving the BFAR aircraft. These confrontations come amid ongoing accusations from both nations regarding dangerous maritime actions, despite a recent agreement aimed at managing disputes and rebuilding trust. China asserts sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, a claim contested by several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, which won a landmark ruling from an international tribunal in 2016 rejecting China's claims. The situation remains tense as China continues to bolster its military presence in the region, having constructed artificial islands equipped with military infrastructure, while expressing concerns over U.S. military deployments in the contested waters.