Philippine Patrol Plane Targeted by Flares from Chinese-Occupied Reef in South China Sea

MANILA — During a routine patrol over the contested South China Sea on Saturday, a Philippine surveillance aircraft was fired upon with three flares from Subi Reef, an island occupied by Chinese forces, the Philippine Coast Guard said. Despite the flare discharge, the Cessna Grand Caravan plane operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources completed its mission uninterrupted.

Officials have yet to determine the proximity of the flares to the aircraft. Chinese authorities have not issued a statement regarding the incident. Beijing asserts control over nearly the entire South China Sea, a vital international shipping corridor, and frequently deploys warning signals—including flare firing—from militarized islands and aircraft to deter foreign incursions into what it claims as its airspace.

The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the Bureau of Fisheries plane captured video footage of the flare activity, signaling a direct challenge to the aerial patrol. "These surveillance flights are conducted to oversee the marine environment, evaluate fisheries resources, and safeguard Filipino fishermen operating in the West Philippine Sea," the Coast Guard explained, referring to Manila's designation for the disputed region.

In addition to encountering the flare incident, the patrol reported spotting a Chinese hospital ship, two Coast Guard vessels, and approximately 29 suspected militia ships stationed near Subi Reef. This reef is one of seven largely submerged features in the Spratly Islands that China has converted into fortified outposts equipped with missile systems and military-grade airstrips, according to U.S. and Philippine defense sources.

The Philippine aircraft also monitored six other contested features, including Sabina Shoal, where a Chinese naval ship issued repeated radio warnings despite the plane operating within what Manila considers its sovereign airspace, the Coast Guard detailed.

Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard described the operation as "all safe and mission accomplished," underscoring the peaceful resolution of the encounter.

The United States, while holding no territorial claims in the South China Sea, maintains a longstanding presence in the area and has pledged to defend the Philippines under their mutual defense treaty if Filipino forces face armed aggression.

Disputes over the resource-rich waters involve several nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, each asserting varying claims alongside China and the Philippines.