top of page
Search

China’s PLA fires flares at PCG aircraft over Kalayaan Island Group

Writer: F. Palafox
F. Palafox
Sep 9
3 min read

Article by F. Palafox

Published on September 10, 2026 02:00PM



MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has documented multiple flare discharges by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) against an unarmed PCG aircraft conducting a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on September 7, 2026. ¹ ² ³ ⁷ ⁹


In a statement Thursday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, said the aircraft was challenged over the radio by Chinese forces illegally occupying Zamora (Subi) Reef before landing on Pag-asa Island. The Chinese forces then fired flares in the aircraft’s direction, and those illegally occupying Panganiban (Mischief) Reef repeated the same actions. ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁷ ⁸


In both instances, the PCG aircrew responded over the radio that the presence of Chinese forces on these illegally reclaimed features is a violation of international law, and that the MDA flight is a routine and legitimate operation. During the flight, the aircrew also observed a considerable number of Chinese Maritime Militia vessels sheltered inside the lagoons of both features. No personnel were seen on the decks of these vessels or on the reclaimed facilities, and no vehicular movement was monitored anywhere on the illegally reclaimed artificial islands. ¹ ²


“The PCG will continue to conduct MDA flights over the West Philippine Sea undeterred, and will continue to document and expose China’s aggression and violations of international law, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment that the country will never yield,” Tarriela said. ¹ ² ³


PCG commandant: ‘Flares were fired at an unarmed Coast Guard aircraft’


PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the PLA’s conduct speaks for itself. “Flares were fired at an unarmed Coast Guard aircraft. The PCG does not need to characterize this behavior,” Gavan said. ¹ ² ³


He added that the 2016 Arbitral Award clearly states that Panganiban Reef is a low-tide elevation forming part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and that China’s reclamation activities there violated Philippine sovereign rights. Gavan also said discharging flares at an aircraft in flight endangers its safety and disregards the duty of due regard China owes under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. ¹ ² ³


DFA: Reclamation cannot change legal status of reefs


The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday called on China to end its “illegal occupation” of Panganiban and Zamora reefs, saying reclamation activities cannot alter the legal status of these features under international law. The statement came a day after the PCG confirmed that Chinese forces fired flares toward an unarmed PCG aircraft conducting a maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group on Monday, September 7. ⁵ ⁶


Chinese forces on Zamora Reef challenged the aircraft over radio and then fired flares in its direction before the plane landed on Pag-asa Island, according to the PCG. Chinese forces on Panganiban Reef did the same, the PCG said. ¹ ² ³ ⁵


International law and flight safety concerns


The PCG said the discharge of flares against an aircraft in flight also endangered flight safety and disregarded China’s obligation to exercise due regard under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The 2016 Arbitral Award, which the Philippines has consistently cited, affirmed that features such as Panganiban Reef are low-tide elevations within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and that China’s large-scale reclamation and construction activities there violated Philippine sovereign rights. ³ ⁵ ⁷ ⁸ ⁹


“The PCG will continue to conduct MDA flights over the West Philippine Sea undeterred, and will continue to document and expose China’s aggression and violations of international law,” the PCG said. ¹ ² ³

____________________

Notes:


¹ Philippine News Agency (PNA). China’s PLA fires flares at PCG aircraft over Kalayaan Island Group. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283778



³ Inquirer.net. West PH Sea: China fires flares at unarmed Philippine aircraft https://www.inquirer.net/488159/west-ph-sea-china-fires-flares-at-unarmed-philippine-aircraft


⁴ Philippine Information Agency (PIA). PLA fires flares at unarmed PCG aircraft during maritime domain awareness flight over Kalayaan Island Group https://pia.gov.ph/news/pla-fires-flares-at-unarmed-pcg-aircraft-during-maritime-domain-awareness-flight-over-kalayaan-island-group


⁵ The Philippine Star. Philippines tells China to end 'illegal occupation' of ... https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/09/11/2555591/philippines-tells-china-end-illegal-occupation-panganiban-zamora-reefs


⁶ Philippines presses China: Stop 'illegal' occupation of Panganiban, Zamora reef. https://tribune.net.ph/2026/09/11/philippines-presses-china-stop-illegal-occupation-of-panganiban-zamora-reef


⁷ The Philippine Star. China fires flares at PCG aircraft. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/09/11/2555534/china-fires-flares-pcg-aircraft


⁸ Rappler. China fires flares at PH Coast Guard plane over West Philippine Sea WATCH: Video from the Philippine Coast Guard shows flares being fired at one of its unarmed aircraft during a Maritime Domain Awareness flight over the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the WPS https://www.facebook.com/rapplerdotcom/posts/china-fires-flares-at-ph-coast-guard-plane-over-west-philippine-sea-watch-video-/1626344326194296


⁹ ABS-CBN News. WATCH: The People’s Liberation Army fired multiple flares toward an unarmed Philippine Coast Guard aircraft conducting a maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on Monday, September 7. https://www.facebook.com/abscbnNEWS/videos/watch-the-peoples-liberation-army-fired-multiple-flares-toward-an-unarmed-philip/1758633112011505

Comments

bottom of page