In response to escalating maritime confrontations, Philippines has called on China to “cease all provocative and dangerous actions.” This demand follows recent accusations that China fired at a Philippine aircraft conducting patrols over the South China Sea, according to Al Jazeera.
The Philippine South China Sea Task Force reported that the aircraft, which belongs to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and works in coordination with the coastguard to monitor and intercept poachers, also encountered harassment from a Chinese jet fighter on August 19. The Chinese jet reportedly deployed flares at dangerously close distances, raising safety concerns for the BFAR personnel.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by stating it conducted “countermeasures” against two Philippine military aircraft that entered its airspace over Subi Reef on August 22, but did not address the incident involving the BFAR aircraft.
The recent incidents are part of a broader pattern of rising tensions between the two nations. Both China and the Philippines have accused each other of dangerous manouevers, including ramming vessels in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
Despite reaching an agreement in July to better manage some maritime disputes and “restore trust,” the relationship between the two countries remains strained. China asserts sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea and has established a significant presence in the region with coastguard vessels and artificial islands equipped with radar, runways, and surface-to-air missiles.
The Philippines, along with Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brunei, contests China’s claims. An international tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claims have “no basis” under international law, awarding a significant legal victory to the Philippines. Meanwhile, China has expressed concerns about the presence of US and allied military forces in the disputed area, viewing it as a “danger to regional security.”
