The Philippine Coast Guard says Chinese forces fire flares at a Coast Guard aircraft during a routine surveillance flight in the West Philippine Sea. According to the PCG, the People’s Liberation Army fired flares twice as the aircraft conducted maritime domain awareness over the Kalayaan Island Group before landing on Pag-asa Island.
The PCG says Chinese forces first challenged the aircraft by radio at Zamora (Subi) Reef, then fired flares in its direction. It says a similar exchange occurs again shortly afterward at Panganiban (Mischief) Reef. Philippine officials describe the aircraft as unarmed and frame the incident as part of routine maritime surveillance operations.
Philippine outlets report the event largely through the PCG’s statements. The Inquirer.net account provides additional detail on the timing, locations, and sequence of radio challenge followed by flare firing, while Philstar.com’s report is shorter and reiterates that multiple flares are fired at the PCG aircraft, quoting the PCG spokesman.
