Philippines Says China Fired Flares at Patrol Plane

The patrol was conducted in accordance with international regulations, Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the South China Sea, said.

An airfield, buildings, and structures are seen on the artificial island built by China in Subi Reef, Spratly Islands, South China Sea, on Oct. 25, 2022. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

The Philippine Coast Guard said Chinese vessels fired three flares toward its patrol plane conducting a routine flight in the disputed South China Sea on Dec. 6, the latest incident in a pattern of aggressive Chinese behaviors aimed at asserting its territorial claims in the region.

Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the South China Sea, said in an X post that the Philippine aircraft took off from a local airport on the morning of Dec. 6 for a maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratly Islands.