Philippines says Chinese forces fired flares near aircraft

The Philippines says Chinese forces fired multiple flares toward an unarmed Philippine aircraft during a September 7 flight near disputed reefs in the South China Sea, adding an aviation-safety dimension to a maritime confrontation that has already strained ties between Manila and Beijing.

The Philippine Coast Guard disclosed the incident on September 10. Philippine officials said the aircraft was conducting a routine maritime-domain-awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group when Chinese forces first issued radio challenges near Subi Reef, also known as Zamora Reef, and then fired flares in the aircraft’s direction. Similar flare activity was reported near Mischief Reef, or Panganiban Reef.

The aircraft later landed at Pag-asa Island, which is controlled by the Philippines. Officials described the plane as unarmed and did not report that it was struck, damaged or associated with any injuries.

What the available evidence shows

The Philippine Coast Guard released video of the encounter. Reporting by South China Morning Post said the footage appeared to show flares being discharged from land as the aircraft approached artificial islands with visible airfields, hangars, radar installations, harbors and other infrastructure.

The flare allegation remains attributed to the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine officials. South China Morning Post reported on September 11 that Beijing had not responded directly to the specific claim. The available reporting therefore does not establish that China acknowledged or denied firing the flares.

The Associated Press reported separate Chinese accusations that Manila was “stirring up trouble” over its South China Sea claims. Those comments concerned Beijing’s broader criticism of Philippine conduct and were not a direct answer to the allegation about the September 7 flight.

Why an aircraft encounter matters

Aircraft operating near contested reefs face a different safety problem from ships maneuvering at sea. A flare fired near a plane can compress the time available for pilots to assess intent, avoid a hazard and communicate with the party involved. Even when no collision or damage is reported, repeated close encounters can increase the risk of miscalculation.

The incident also highlights how fortified outposts and Philippine surveillance flights bring military, coast guard and maritime-domain-awareness activities into close proximity. For governments, airlines and maritime operators, the practical concern is whether repeated encounters complicate flight operations, surveillance missions and crisis communications in a heavily contested waterway.

Manila adds a diplomatic protest

On September 11, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department called on China to cease what Manila described as its illegal occupation and activities at Subi and Mischief reefs. The department cited Philippine maritime law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award in setting out the Philippine legal position.

Those are Manila’s stated legal claims and should not be read as a new ruling or an agreed settlement. The dispute remains unresolved, and the two governments continue to contest rights, jurisdiction and activities across parts of the South China Sea.

Where ASEAN fits

ASEAN’s South China Sea framework emphasizes restraint, peaceful dispute management, communication and confidence-building. ASEAN and China continue to negotiate a Code of Conduct, but no finished regional enforcement mechanism currently governs aerial encounters near disputed features.

ASEAN says the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties supports peaceful dispute management, trust-building and practical cooperation, including safety of navigation and communication. The ASEAN-China Plan of Action for 2026-2030 calls for progress toward an effective and substantive Code of Conduct consistent with UNCLOS, adherence to relevant International Civil Aviation Organization standards, prevention of incidents and further confidence-building.

The flare report tests how far those commitments can reach when the encounter involves an aircraft rather than only ships. The documents provide principles, negotiations and cooperation channels, but they do not amount to a demonstrated enforcement system for a disputed aerial incident.

For now, the next steps are diplomatic: Manila has indicated that further action could follow after receiving reports from its security agencies, while Beijing may issue additional statements. The immediate development is a Philippine report of flares fired near an unarmed aircraft—not a confirmed exchange of fire—but it widens the safety challenge facing countries operating around the disputed reefs.

Sources

• Philippine News Agency: China’s PLA fires flares at PCG aircraft over Kalayaan Island Group
• South China Morning Post: South China Sea: Manila says flares fired at aircraft near Subi, Mischief reefs
• ASEAN-China Plan of Action 2026-2030

Look for updates to this story

Related News

• China and Philippines trade accusations after Seoul South China Sea dispute
• Hong Kong court sentences 3 Tiananmen vigil leaders to prison
• Tracked Hormuz commodity traffic nearly stops after ship attacks
• Pacific leaders stop short of unanimous rebuke of China missile test