The Philippine government has called on China to halt all provocative and dangerous maneuvers following a recent incident in the West Philippine Sea. On August 22, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft conducting a Maritime Domain Awareness Flight was targeted by flares launched from Zamora Reef, an area militarized by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The reef is part of the Kalayaan Island Group within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, the BFAR aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, was patrolling the waters to monitor illegal activities and encroachments. While performing its routine checks, the aircraft encountered flares launched from Zamora Reef, a militarized zone claimed and occupied by China but within Philippine territory.
The task force highlighted that this is not the first instance of such aggressive behavior. On August 19, a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter jet engaged in similar hostile actions near Bajo de Masinloc, coming dangerously close—approximately 15 meters—from a BFAR plane while deploying flares multiple times.
“The Chinese fighter jet was in no way provoked, yet its actions demonstrated hazardous intent that jeopardized the safety of the personnel onboard the BFAR aircraft,” the task force stated.
The Philippine government reiterated its demand for China to “immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions” that threaten Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate activities within the country’s territory and EEZ. They stressed that these actions undermine regional peace and violate international law, referencing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“The Philippines remains steadfast in exercising its rights to strengthen maritime domain awareness within our sovereign territory, national airspace, and EEZ,” the statement concluded.