Chinese military forces fired three signal flares at a Philippine patrol aircraft flying near the contested Subi Reef in the South China Sea, in what Manila has labeled a provocative act amid soaring territorial tensions. The incident unfolded during a recent routine surveillance mission over the West Philippine Sea, a stretch of contested waters that the Philippines claims within its exclusive economic zone.
Flares Fired During Philippine Monitoring Flight
According to Philippine authorities, a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) came under apparent visual warning when Chinese forces based on Subi Reef launched three signal flares in its direction. Despite the incident, the plane, tasked with monitoring the marine environment and safeguarding Filipino fishermen, continued its lawful flight path.
“The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft recorded video footage of three flares fired from the reef toward the aircraft during its lawful overflight,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
The confrontation is the latest in a series of escalating encounters in the region, where China has expanded its presence through artificial island-building and increased military patrols around maritime features claimed by multiple states.
Heavily Armed Chinese Presence Near Subi Reef
During the mission, the Philippine patrol crew documented the presence of significant Chinese maritime assets near Subi Reef: a hospital ship, two coast guard vessels, 29 suspected militia boats, and a navy ship. The Philippine aircraft also flew over other contested areas, including Sabina Shoal, where it was repeatedly radio-challenged by a Chinese naval vessel, according to the PCG.
“This vessel repeatedly issued radio challenges against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft while it was flying well within Philippine sovereign rights,” the agency said.
Subi Reef: A Flashpoint in Southeast Asia’s Maritime Dispute
Subi Reef, known in the Philippines as Zamora Reef, lies just 26 kilometers southwest of Thitu Island (Pag-asa), a major Philippine outpost in the disputed Spratly archipelago. Though classified under international law as a low-tide elevation—a feature that does not generate territorial waters—China has transformed Subi Reef into a heavily fortified military installation through large-scale land reclamation since 1988.
Equipped with runways, missile defense systems, and surveillance radars, Subi Reef now stands as a key strategic node within China’s broader maritime defense architecture in the South China Sea. Its proximity to Philippine-held features intensifies the friction between Manila and Beijing, particularly when Philippine reconnaissance planes patrol areas near the reef.
South China Sea: A Theater of Overlapping Claims
The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most contentious maritime regions. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan all lay claim to overlapping areas, particularly within the Spratly Islands. These disputes trace back decades and have escalated due to escalating naval activity and geopolitical rivalry.
Since the 1970s, the Philippines has officially claimed part of the Spratlys under what it designated the Kalayaan Island Group. Meanwhile, China has built and militarized several submerged reefs, arguing that they fall under its historical jurisdiction. Despite a 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) invalidating China’s expansive maritime claims, Beijing has largely ignored the decision.
Conflicting Narratives, Rising Risks
The confrontation near Subi Reef underscores the fragile nature of regional peace in the South China Sea. Philippine authorities assert that their patrols serve scientific and humanitarian purposes, supporting the welfare of Filipino fishermen and enforcing environmental monitoring. Conversely, China claims such actions as infringements on its sovereignty, using military measures—including flare deployments—as warnings.
Philippine position: Manila labels the flare-firing as a provocative act and vows to continue air and sea patrols within its claimed territory. Officials have emphasized the importance of these operations to national security and food security.
Chinese position: Beijing contends that patrol flights from the Philippines are themselves provocative, asserting that its fortifications and deployments are defensive in nature, aimed at protecting what it sees as its sovereign territory.
A Broader Contest Over Sovereignty and Law
While the latest incident did not result in a physical confrontation, it feeds into a pattern of increasingly bold challenges in disputed waters. With numerous vessels—military, coast guard, and militia—operating in close quarters, the potential for escalation remains high. Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to resolve the core issues, leaving recurring flashpoints like Subi Reef as pressure valves in a volatile security environment.
Experts warn that such provocations, even if limited to non-lethal means like flares or radio warnings, carry symbolic weight. They are part of a broader attempt to challenge air and sea access, reshape tactical realities on the ground—or sea—and push the boundaries of what countries can assert without triggering a wider crisis.
Continued Vigilance in Unsettled Waters
The surveillance aircraft ultimately returned safely, but officials say the presence of the Chinese fleet—including dozens of suspected militia vessels—serves as a continued warning of the evolving status quo in the South China Sea. With no clear resolution in sight, Philippine authorities signal that they will persist in asserting maritime rights through regular patrols and public transparency on foreign incursions.
“These flights aim to monitor the marine environment, assess the status of fisheries resources and ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” the Philippine Coast Guard reiterated.
As the South China Sea dispute grinds on, flare by flare, reef by reef, the stakes remain more than symbolic—for the airspace navigated by small patrol planes, the livelihoods of Filipino fishermen, and the broader stability of one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
