China Fires Flares at Philippine Patrol Aircraft Over Subi Reef and Mischief Reef — Manila Calls It 'Deliberate Bullying'

Chinese coast guard forces fired warning flares toward Philippine patrol aircraft over Subi Reef and Mischief Reef on the afternoon of April 9, 2026 — the same day the Philippines activated its new Coast Guard District HQ at Pagasa Island. The Philippines characterized the flare incidents as a 'clear and deliberate act of bullying' designed to intimidate Philippine forces ahead of and during the coast guard base opening ceremony. Chinese coast guard vessels in the area also issued radio warnings to the Philippine aircraft. The use of aerial flares against government patrol aircraft is an escalatory step beyond water cannon use against surface vessels — it directly threatens aviation safety and echoes the March 20 flare incident at Panganiban Reef cited in the National Maritime Council's April 3 condemnation. The simultaneous timing of the flare incidents and the Pagasa base opening strongly suggested the Chinese actions were deliberate political signaling in response to the new Philippine command activation. The AFP confirmed the incidents without specifying the aircraft type involved.