China Fires Flares at Unarmed PCG Aircraft Near Mischief, Subi Reefs; Philippines Demands End to 'Illegal Occupation'

A Philippine Coast Guard aircraft conducting a Maritime Domain Awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group was targeted with multiple flares fired by Chinese forces on September 7, 2026, the PCG disclosed on September 10. Chinese forces occupying Zamora (Subi) Reef challenged the unarmed aircraft over radio and then fired flares in its direction before it landed on Pag-asa (Thitu) Island; Chinese forces occupying Panganiban (Mischief) Reef did the same. PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said 'discharging flares at an aircraft in flight endangers flight safety and disregards the duty of due regard that China owes under the Convention on International Civil Aviation,' adding 'the PCG does not need to characterize this behavior' as its conduct speaks for itself. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela released video showing the flares fired from land as the aircraft approached the artificial islands, with a lighthouse matching the structure China built on Subi Reef in 2016 visible in the footage alongside airfields, hangars, radar installations and harbors. The aircrew also observed a considerable number of Chinese maritime militia vessels sheltered inside the lagoons of both features, though no personnel or vehicle movement was observed on the reclaimed facilities themselves. Beijing had not responded to the claim as of September 11. The following day, the Department of Foreign Affairs called on China to 'cease its illegal occupation and activities' at both reefs, noting the 2016 arbitral tribunal classified Panganiban Reef as a low-tide elevation forming part of the Philippines' EEZ and continental shelf that 'can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor capable of appropriation under international law,' and that China's island-building on both reefs violates UNCLOS and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (RA 12064). It is the fourth documented flare-firing incident against Philippine patrol aircraft in the Spratlys since March 2026, following incidents on March 20 and April 9.