On August 22, during a Maritime Domain Awareness Flight conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched flares from their militarized reclaimed island in Zamora Reef, within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island. The BFAR aircraft, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), was tasked with monitoring and intercepting poachers encroaching upon the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the territorial seas of the maritime features constituting the Kalayaan Island Group. While the BFAR was conducting the routine patrol, the PRC unjustifiably deployed flares from Zamora Reef.
This same BFAR aircraft also faced harassment from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) on August 19 during an MDA flight near Bajo de Masinloc. The PLAAF Chinese Fighter Jet 63270 engaged in irresponsible and dangerous maneuvers, deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance of approximately 15 meters from the BFAR Grand Caravan aircraft. The Chinese fighter jet was not provoked, yet its actions demonstrated hazardous intent that jeopardized the safety of the personnel onboard the BFAR aircraft.
We firmly reiterate our call on the government of the People’s Republic of China to immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate and regular activities within Philippine territory and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the right of all vessels and aircraft exercising freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. Such actions undermine regional peace and security, and further erode the image of the PRC with the international community.
The Philippines remains steadfast in exercising its right to strengthen maritime domain awareness within our sovereign territory, national airspace, and EEZ, as well as in the high seas, in accordance with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
https://x.com/jaytaryela/status/1827151634918732122
