Following the second mid-air flare incident in a month, the Philippines and the US ambassador to the Philippines called on the Chinese regime to cease "provocative and dangerous actions" in the South China Sea on Saturday.
Following a similar incident earlier this month, Philippine officials accused the Chinese military of harassing a Philippine fishing plane and shooting flares at the aircraft last week.
Additionally, the Japanese envoy declared that "any actions which increase tensions and endanger the lives of crews" are unacceptable.
Over islands in sections of the South China Sea, which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea, territorial disputes between the Philippines and the communist-ruled mainland China have became more intense.
On Saturday, the Philippine’s interagency National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said flares were dropped at and near a Philippine aircraft on two separate days over the past week.
“On August 22 … the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched flares from their militarized reclaimed island in Zamora Reef, within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island,” the task force said in a statement, using the official acronym of China under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party.
Zamora Reef is an atoll in the Spratly Islands, often referred to as Subi Reef and Zhubi Reef. Zhongye Island or Thitu Island are other names for Pag-asa Island.
According to the NTF-WPS, the flares were "unjustifiably" set off when the Philippine aircraft and the Philippine Coast Guard were on a normal patrol to keep an eye out for and apprehend foreign poachers.
Additionally, it stated that on August 19 near Scarborough Shoal, a Chinese fighter jet shot flares at the same aircraft, "at a dangerously close distance of approximately 15 meters."
“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 statement reads.
The Chinese regime is being urged to "cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft," which the task force, which is made up of the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard, said were "engaged in legitimate and regular activities within Philippine territory and Exclusive Economic Zone."
Additionally, it stated that Beijing's actions "further erode the PRC's image with the international community and undermine regional peace and security."
"The [United States] stands firmly with the [Philippines] in condemning the PRC for launching flares at [Philippine] aircraft operating legally near Scarborough and Subi Reefs Aug. 19 & 22," U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson stated in a statement shared on social media site X. We demand that the PRC stop its aggressive and hazardous acts that threaten a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific along with the [Philippines].
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya also posted on X, stating that his country "opposes any actions which increase tensions and endanger the lives of crews," adding that it defends the rule of law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
In response to the allegations, the Chinese government remained silent.
The events came after a string of clashes over the disputed islands this month between Beijing and Manila.
Enrique Manalo, the foreign secretary of the Philippines, announced on August 12 that his nation will lodge a diplomatic complaint with China over flares that were dropped on August 8 in the route of a Philippine patrol plane.
The Philippine aircraft was accused of violating Chinese airspace by the Chinese air force, which maintained that its actions were "professional, standard, justified, and lawful."
China and the Philippines exchanged accusations on August 19, the day their coast guard boats collided.
Two Philippine Coast Guard vessels were damaged as a result of two China Coast Guard vessels engaging in risky tactics, according to the Philippines. According to the China Coast Guard, a Philippine ship intentionally collided with a Chinese ship.
