MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recorded multiple flare discharges by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) against an unarmed PCG aircraft conducting a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on Sept. 7.
In a statement on Thursday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, said the aircraft was challenged over the radio by Chinese forces illegally occupying Zamora (Subi) Reef before landing on Pag-asa Island.
The Chinese forces then fired flares in the aircraft's direction, and those illegally occupying Panganiban (Mischief) Reef repeated the same actions.
In both instances, the PCG aircrew responded over the radio that the presence of Chinese forces on these illegally reclaimed features is a violation of international law, and that the MDA flight is a routine and legitimate operation.
During the flight, the aircrew also observed a considerable number of Chinese Maritime Militia vessels sheltered inside the lagoons of both features. No personnel were seen on the decks of these vessels or on the reclaimed facilities, and no vehicular movement was monitored anywhere on the illegally reclaimed artificial islands.
“The PCG will continue to conduct MDA flights over the West Philippine Sea undeterred, and will continue to document and expose China's aggression and violations of international law, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s commitment that the country will never yield,” Tarriela said.
Meanwhile, PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, said the PLA's conduct speaks for itself.
"Flares were fired at an unarmed Coast Guard aircraft. The PCG does not need to characterize this behavior," Gavan said.
He added that the 2016 Arbitral Award clearly states that Panganiban Reef is a low-tide elevation forming part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and that China's reclamation activities there violated Philippine sovereign rights.
Gavan also said discharging flares at an aircraft in flight endangers its safety and disregards the duty of due regard China owes under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. (PNA)
