Chinese forces fired flares directly toward a Philippine plane undertaking a routine patrol on April 6 in the disputed South China Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The incident occurred when a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft of the Philippine Coast Guard was peacefully operating over Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, said on X on April 9.
During the encounter, the Chinese forces also issued a radio transmission claiming they have “indisputable sovereignty” over the areas, he added.
Beijing did not immediately comment on the incident.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims almost the entire South China Sea—a strategic and resource-rich waterway—despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its assertion under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. That ruling, issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, was rejected by Beijing….
China Fired Flares Toward Philippine Plane in South China Sea, Manila Says
