The People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched flares from Zamora Reef during the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness Flight (MDA) on Thursday, August 22.

According to the statement by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Saturday, the Cessna 20B Grand Caravan was monitoring and intercepting poachers around the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial seas within the Kalayaan Island Group, when the flares were launched.

Moreover, the same aircraft also encountered harassment from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) last August 19, during a similar MDA flight near Bajo de Masinloc.

“The PLAAF fighter jet 63270 engaged in irresponsible and dangerous maneuvers, deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance of approximately 15 meters from the BFAR Grand Caravan Aircraft,” the NTF-WPS statement read.

“We firmly reiterate our call on the government of the People’s Republic of China to immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate and regular activities within Philippine territory and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the right of all vessels and aircraft exercising freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” the NTF-WPS stressed.

According to the NTF-WPS, such actions further erode China's image with the international community.

“The Philippines remains steadfast in exercising its rights to strengthen maritime domain awareness within our sovereign territory, national airspace, and EEZ, as well as in the high seas, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” the task force ended.