Chinese flare use vs aircraft over WPS ‘illegal, dangerous’ — PH Navy

The Philippine Navy on Friday denounced the use of flares by Chinese forces against a Philippine aircraft over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), calling the move “illegal, unprofessional, and unsafe.”

“Number one, the activity of the Philippine Coast Guard was legal. It was within the bounds of domestic law and international law,” Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters.

“Secondly, the firing of flares by the Chinese Communist Party is illegal, unprofessional and unsafe. These actions are designed to regularize or normalize their illegal presence in our maritime domain,” he added.

Chinese forces fired flares at a PCG aircraft conducting a routine patrol over the WPS, PCG spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said on Thursday.

According to Tarriela, the incident occurred during maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over the Kalayaan Island Group.

Tarriela also said that the flares were directed at a PCG Caravan aircraft operating near Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef.

Trinidad said, “We will not be deterred from performing our functions, our mandate of patrolling the seas and the skies in spite of all of these illegal, coercive and aggressive actions being done against us.”

“We will be there to protect and to show the Philippine flag.”

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion worth of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — BAP, GMA News