MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines said Chinese forces fired flares directly at its coast guard aircraft over the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, calling the incident "a clear and deliberate act of bullying.”
The Philippine Coast Guard was conducting routine monitoring over Mischief Reef and Subi Reef on Thursday when Chinese forces fired the flares, according to its spokesman, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela. The Chinese also issued radio transmissions, claiming "indisputable sovereignty” over the areas, he said.
"These reckless and aggressive actions by China represent yet another escalation in their campaign of intimidation and harrassment,” Tarriela said in a post on X. China’s embassy in Manila didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Philippines and China have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway believed to be rich in natural resources.
The South-East Asian nation has bolstered military ties with the US to help safeguard its claims in the disputed sea, leading to repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television last month, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signaled he’s open to restarting talks with Beijing on a joint oil and gas project in the disputed seas, saying the war in Iran may provide the impetus for a breakthrough.
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