This afternoon, in a clear and deliberate act of bullying, Chinese forces fired flares directly at Philippine Coast Guard Caravan aircraft while we were conducting routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flights over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG). The provocative incidents occurred specifically at Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reefs, where our PCG aircraft were operating peacefully to monitor maritime activities and ensure the safety of our waters.
These reckless and aggressive actions by China represent yet another escalation in their campaign of intimidation and harassment. By targeting unarmed PCG aircraft with flares, Beijing is not only violating established international aviation safety norms and the spirit of regional peace but is also directly endangering the lives of personnel on board.
The Chinese forces also issued radio transmissions during the incidents, brazenly claiming “indisputable sovereignty” over these areas—referring to their own illegally reclaimed and militarized bases in the West Philippine Sea. These assertions have no basis in international law, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, and serve only to mask China’s expansionist agenda and repeated violations of international law.
