MANILA, Philippines — Chinese forces fired three flares toward a Philippine patrol plane during a routine surveillance mission in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday, according to the Philippine coast guard, marking another tense encounter in the long-simmering territorial standoff.
The incident occurred as the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, conducted a lawful overflight near the Chinese-occupied Subi Reef, one of the key features in the Spratly Islands chain. The flares were launched from the reef but did not disrupt the flight, allowing the plane to complete its mission without incident, officials said.
“The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft recorded video footage of three flares fired from the reef toward the aircraft during its lawful overflight,” the Philippine coast guard stated in a release. The agency emphasized that such flights are essential for monitoring the marine environment, assessing the status of fisheries resources, and ensuring the safety and welfare of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, Manila's term for the waters it claims within its exclusive economic zone.
During the patrol, the aircraft observed significant Chinese presence in the area, including a Chinese hospital ship, two coast guard vessels, and 29 suspected militia ships anchored off Subi Reef. These militia vessels, often described by Western and Philippine officials as disguised fishing boats used for gray-zone tactics, have been a point of contention in the region for years.
Subi Reef is among seven disputed and mostly submerged features that China has transformed into artificial island bases over the past decade. According to U.S. and Philippine security officials, these outposts are fortified with missile defense systems, and three of them feature military-grade runways capable of supporting fighter jets and other aircraft. The developments have escalated concerns over militarization in the South China Sea, a vital global trade route through which an estimated $3 trillion in commerce passes annually.
The Philippine plane's route took it near six other contested islands, reefs, and atolls, including the uninhabited Sabina Shoal. There, the crew encountered a Chinese navy ship that “repeatedly issued radio challenges against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft while it was flying well within Philippine sovereign rights,” the coast guard reported. Such radio warnings are a common tactic employed by Chinese forces to assert control over disputed airspace.
Jay Tarriela, a spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard, described the operation as a success, saying, “All safe and mission accomplished.” He highlighted the routine nature of the flight, which was jointly conducted with the fisheries agency to gather intelligence on activities affecting Philippine interests.
Chinese officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the flare incident. Beijing has long maintained that it holds indisputable sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, based on its so-called nine-dash line, a historical claim rejected by an international arbitral tribunal in 2016 in a case brought by the Philippines. In response to foreign patrols, Chinese forces have previously fired flares from occupied islands and aircraft as warnings to deter what they describe as intrusions into their sovereign airspace.
The South China Sea disputes involve multiple nations beyond China and the Philippines. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also assert overlapping claims to parts of the resource-rich waters, which are believed to hold vast reserves of oil, natural gas, and fisheries. Tensions have flared periodically, with incidents including vessel rammings, water cannon use, and the blocking of resupply missions to Philippine outposts like the Second Thomas Shoal.
This latest event comes amid a broader pattern of confrontations. Just last month, Philippine officials reported that Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons against a resupply boat near the same shoal, injuring crew members and damaging equipment. The U.S. has condemned such actions, reaffirming its defense commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, America's oldest ally in Asia.
Washington has no territorial claims in the South China Sea but conducts freedom of navigation operations through the waters to challenge excessive Chinese assertions. “The United States is obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea,” State Department officials have repeatedly stated. Recent joint military exercises between the U.S. and Philippine forces underscore this alliance, with drills focusing on scenarios involving maritime security.
Experts note that while Saturday's flare firing did not escalate to physical contact, it exemplifies China's strategy of using non-lethal measures to assert dominance without crossing into open conflict. “These incidents test the resolve of smaller claimants like the Philippines,” said Gregory Poling, a Southeast Asia analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He added that the presence of militia vessels off Subi Reef suggests ongoing efforts to normalize Chinese control over disputed areas.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a firmer stance on the disputes compared to his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued warmer ties with Beijing. Under Marcos, Manila has bolstered defense ties with the U.S., Japan, and Australia, including expanded access to Philippine bases for American troops. This shift has drawn warnings from China, which views such partnerships as provocative encirclement.
The international community continues to urge restraint and dialogue. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has pushed for a code of conduct to manage South China Sea tensions, though negotiations with China have stalled for years. Meanwhile, fishing communities in the Philippines report increasing hardships, with Chinese patrols restricting access to traditional grounds and leading to arrests of Filipino fishermen.
As the patrol plane returned safely, Philippine officials expressed determination to continue such missions. “We will not be deterred from exercising our rights,” Tarriela said in a social media post following the flight. With no immediate signs of de-escalation from Beijing, analysts warn that minor incidents like the flare firing could spiral if not addressed through diplomatic channels. The coming weeks may see further patrols and responses, keeping the region on edge amid its strategic importance to global security and trade.