China Fires Flares at Philippine Aircraft Over South China Sea, Escalating Tensions

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said Chinese forces fired multiple flares at an unarmed PCG aircraft conducting a routine maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday. PCG spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the Philippine aircraft was challenged over the radio by Chinese forces occupying Zamora (Subi) Reef before it landed on Pag-asa Island. “The PCG recorded multiple flare discharges by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) against an unarmed PCG aircraft conducting a legitimate MDA flight over the KIG on 07 September 2026,” he said in a statement. “Prior to landing on Pag-asa Island, the PCG aircraft was challenged over radio by Chinese forces illegally occupying Zamora (Subi) Reef, which then fired flares in its direction. Chinese forces illegally occupying Panganiban (Mischief) Reef repeated the same actions,” he added. GMA News Onlight has sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the incident but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. Chinese maritime militia vessels were also seen inside the lagoons of Subi and Mischief Reefs, according to Tarriela. No personnel were seen on the decks of the vessels or on the reclaimed facilities, while no vehicular movement was monitored on the artificial islands, he added. PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said, “Flares were fired at an unarmed Coast Guard aircraft. The PCG does not need to characterize this behavior." He cited the 2016 arbitral ruling, which stated that Mischief Reef is a low-tide elevation forming part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. Gavan said China's reclamation activities at the feature were conducted in violation of Philippine sovereign rights. The PCG said the discharge of flares against an aircraft in flight also endangered flight safety and disregarded China's obligation to exercise due regard under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. “The PCG will continue to conduct MDA flights over the West Philippine Sea undeterred, and will continue to document and expose China's aggression and violations of international law,” the PCG said. —VAL, GMA News