China has fired flares to repel Philippine patrol ships in the West Philippine Sea on at least five instances in June, the military’s Western Mindanao Command said Friday.
WestMinCom’s Lt. Col. Bill Pasia, in an online briefing, said the Philippine vessels were conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) patrols.
“China uses pyrotechnic signals or flare warnings to ward off our ISR teams. In 2021 alone, a total of five flare warning signals were reported by our ISR teams,” Pasia said.
The flares, he said, were fired from buildings in Chinese-occupied reefs in the area.
The first incident recorded was on June 16 from Chigua Reef. On June 22, two incidents were recorded from Calderon Reef, one from Gaven Reef, and one from Mabini Reef.
“While we are patrolling the West Philippine Sea, our ISR teams are consistently receiving radio challenges from Chinese Navy or reefs during routine flight patrols,” Pasia said.
“The situation has implications as it affects our national security and our dignity as a nation,” he added.
In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s legal basis for its expansive claim in the South China Sea before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.
Manila won the case in a landmark award in 2016 after the tribunal invalidated Beijing’s assertions.
China, however, has repeatedly ignored the PCA ruling, while the Philippines has sought to resolve the sea dispute through a diplomatic approach.
