The conflict between Beijing and Manila has escalated from the sea to the air. The Philippine government announced on Saturday (August 24) that a Philippine aircraft conducting routine patrol in the South China Sea was threatened by illumination rounds fired from a Chinese military base on a man-made island.
According to reports from Philippine news agencies, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) confirmed that a Cessna civilian aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Philippines encountered illumination rounds fired from the reclaimed and militarized fishing atoll near Subi Reef during its flight on Thursday (August 22).
The Task Force mentioned that the same Philippine aircraft was “harassed” by a Chinese fighter jet on Monday (August 19). On that day, a Chinese Air Force fighter jet identified as 63270 carried out “irresponsible dangerous maneuvers” by repeatedly launching illumination rounds at a dangerous distance of 15 meters from the Philippine aircraft.
The Philippines argued that the Chinese fighter jet “was not provoked but its actions showed dangerous intent, endangering the safety of personnel on board Philippine Air Force aircraft.”
In another incident on August 8 involving the disputed Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military claimed that two Chinese jet fighters dropped at least eight illumination rounds, posing a danger to Philippine military aircraft on routine patrols. This marked the first aerial encounter since the ongoing conflicts in the South China Sea between Beijing and Manila in 2023.
The Task Force urged the Chinese government in a statement to “immediately cease all provocations and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate and routine activities within Philippine territory and exclusive economic zone, as well as the rights of all vessels and aircraft exercising freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.”
The statement mentioned that “these actions disrupt regional peace and security, further tarnishing China’s image in the international community.” Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs has lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing.
Philippine military spokesperson General Romeo Brawner Jr. pointed out that while there were no reports of casualties or damages, China’s actions could have serious consequences.
Brawner told reporters, “If the illumination rounds were to make contact with our aircraft, they could be sucked into the propeller or intake, or set our aircraft on fire. This is very dangerous.”
Despite the ruling of international courts that China’s claims lack legal basis, China still asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release on Friday (August 23) that on August 22, two Philippine military aircraft flew over Subi Reef, and China “lawfully took necessary countermeasures.”
Subi Reef is currently under actual Chinese control. The reef is located southwest of the Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands and, along with Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, was declared as low-tide elevations by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016, unable to generate territorial waters, exclusive economic zones, or continental shelves.
China’s statement made no mention of the conflict over Scarborough Shoal on August 19. The incident occurred when Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels collided near Sabina Shoal hours after the collision near Sabina Shoal, the Philippines reported that both of its patrol vessels suffered structural damage. Sabina Shoal is located 140 kilometers west of Palawan Island in the Philippines and approximately 1200 kilometers away from the nearest Chinese land on Hainan Island.
Following the collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels, U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel released a statement expressing support for ally the Philippines and condemning China’s “dangerous actions against legitimate Philippine maritime activities,” calling on Beijing to halt its risky and destabilizing actions.