China fires flares at PCG aircraft

MANILA, Philippines — Multiple flares were fired at a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) early this week, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said yesterday.

Tarriela said the PCG aircraft was patrolling the Kalayaan Island Group on Monday when the PLA discharged flares from Subi and Mischief Reefs after issuing radio challenges.

The aircraft was unarmed and conducting a routine and legitimate operation, he said.

“The discharge of flares against an aircraft in flight endangers flight safety and disregards the duty of due regard that China owes under the Convention on International Civil Aviation,” the PCG said.

Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG commandant, said they don’t need to say more about China’s actions as its conduct “speaks for itself.”

Gavan cited the 2016 arbitral award, emphasizing that reclamation activities carried out by Beijing in Mischief Reef violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The PCG also monitored a “considerable number” of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the lagoons of the reefs.

“No personnel were observed on the decks of these vessels or on the reclaimed facilities, and no vehicular movement was monitored anywhere on the illegally reclaimed artificial islands,” Tarriela said.

China: Stop theatrics

China has refused to address the incident at a security forum in Seoul, where a Chinese military attaché handed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. a letter reiterating Beijing’s stance on the arbitral ruling.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened at the event,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference in Beijing.

“We urge a certain individual on the Philippine side to cut the provocations and theatrics and stop undermining China-Philippines relations and stability in the South China Sea,” she added.

Mao accused the Philippines of violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“The Philippines unilaterally initiated the case, which is a distortion and abuse of the UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanism. It is the Philippine side who has violated UNCLOS and undermined its integrity and authority,” Mao said.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro declared at a forum that international cooperation must be enhanced to protect critical maritime infrastructure.

Lazaro said protecting submarine cables, ports and maritime energy infrastructure “should be a global concern.”

She emphasized that the UNCLOS is indispensable in the global effort to protect maritime infrastructure.

Co-hosted by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States and International Maritime Organization, the forum enabled participants to exchange best practices and new ideas on how to strengthen regional and international efforts to enhance the resilience and security of critical maritime infrastructure.