The Philippines yesterday called on Beijing to “immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions” after accusing it of “unjustifiably” deploying flares from China-occupied Subi Reef (Jhubi Reef, 渚碧礁) on Thursday, while a Manila aircraft was conducting patrols.
The same aircraft also “faced harassment” from a Chinese jet fighter while it was conducting a surveillance flight near Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) on Monday, the Philippines’ South China Sea task force said in a statement.
“Such actions undermine regional peace and security, and further erode the image of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] with the international community,” the task force said.
Photo: AP
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately comment about the incidents, which happened the same week Manila and Beijing accused each of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea.
They also came less than two weeks after an air incident between the Chinese and Philippines militaries in Scarborough Shoal, even as the two nations have agreed to “restore trust” and “rebuild confidence” to better manage maritime disputes.
The US condemned China for launching flares at the Philippine aircraft, US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson wrote on X.
“With the Philippines, we call on PRC to cease provocative and dangerous actions that undermine a free and open Indo Pacific region,” she said.
Manila’s aircraft, which belonged to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, was tasked to monitor and intercept poachers encroaching on the nation’s exclusive economic zone.
The Chinese fighter jet, which was not provoked, deployed flares multiple times “at a dangerously close distance” from the BFAR aircraft, the task force said.
“Its actions demonstrated hazardous intent that jeopardized the safety of the personnel onboard the BFAR aircraft,” it added.
China claims sovereignty over nearly the whole South China Sea and has deployed an armada of coast guard vessels to protect what it considers its territory. Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei contest the claims.
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