China Fires Flares Toward Philippine Patrol Plane Near Subi Reef; Mission Completed Safely

Incident Overview

The Philippine Coast Guard says Chinese forces fired three flares from the vicinity of the Chinese-occupied Subi Reef toward a Philippine surveillance aircraft on Saturday, but the incident did not disrupt the mission and the plane completed its patrol as planned.

What Happened

The aircraft, a Cessna Grand Caravan operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, recorded video footage of three flares launched from Subi Reef toward the plane during a routine overflight, the coast guard said. It was not immediately clear how close the flares landed to the aircraft.

“These flights aim to monitor the marine environment, assess the status of fisheries resources and ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” the coast guard said, referring to the area Manila claims.

Observations and Context

During the patrol the plane reported seeing a Chinese hospital ship, two Chinese coast guard vessels and 29 suspected militia ships anchored off Subi, the Philippine Coast Guard added. The aircraft also flew near six other disputed features, including the uninhabited shoal Sabina, where a Chinese navy ship issued repeated radio challenges while the Philippine plane was operating within what Manila considers its sovereign rights.

Subi is one of several largely submerged reefs in the Spratly Islands that China turned into artificially enhanced island bases more than a decade ago. U.S. and Philippine security officials have said some of these features are equipped with missile defenses and that at least three have military-grade runways.

Wider Regional Implications

The South China Sea is a vital global shipping route claimed in large part by Beijing. Other claimants include the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The United States, while holding no territorial claims in the waterway, has patrolled the area for decades and has repeatedly said it could be obliged under its mutual defense treaty to assist the Philippines if Filipino forces were attacked.

Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard described the surveillance flight as "All safe and mission accomplished." Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the flare incident.