MANILA — The Philippines called on Beijing on Saturday to “immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions” after accusing it of “unjustifiably” deploying flares from China-occupied Subi Reef on Aug. 22 while a Manila aircraft was conducting patrols. The same aircraft also “faced harassment” from a Chinese jet fighter while it was conducting a surveillance flight near Scarborough Shoal on Aug.
19, the Philippines’ South China Sea Task Force said in a statement. “Such actions undermine regional peace and security, and further erode the image of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) with the international community,” the task force said. There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the incidents, which happened the same week Manila and Beijing accused each of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea.
They also came less than two weeks after an air incident between the Chinese and Philippines militaries in Scarborough Shoal, even as the two nations have agreed to “restore trust” and “rebuild confidence” to better manage maritime disputes. T he United States condemned China for launching flares at the Philippine aircraft, U.S.
Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson said on platform X. “With the Philippines, we call on PRC to cease provocative and dangerous actions that undermine a free and open Indo Pacific region,” she said. Manila’s aircraft, which belonged to the Bureau of Fish.