Philippine aircraft met by China flares from Panganiban Reef

A Philippine aerial mission to the Panganiban Reef using an aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was met by flares China fired from the maritime feature.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's exclusive report on "24 Oras," the patrol also received radio challenges from the Chinese.

Still, the patrol managed to capture images of the facilities that China had built on the reef well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Seen from above were the infrastructure projects China built at the Mischief Reef including a hangar, building projects, a sports complex, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and eight basketball courts, among others. 

Vietnam also launched flares against the mission after the aircraft went near a reef it currently occupies. 

Also seen were the Chinese vessels monitoring BRP Sierra Made at the Ayungin Shoal and four Chinese militia vessels stationed at Escoda Shoal.

“Mas dumadami sila at parang mas naging aggressive sila to block yung mga shoals lalo na yung entry sa mga shoals. Kaya di na nakakapasok yung fishermen natin,” Manalo said. 

(It seems like China is getting more aggressive in blocking entry to the shoal. Filipino fisherfolks cannot enter the area anymore.)

“Bina-block nila yung ano entry dun na malapitan yung Sierra Madre lalo na sa east side. Dun kasi mangagaling resupply ng mga vessel po natin,” he added. 

(They also block entry in BRP Sierra Madre, especially from the east side. That’s the area where the resupply boats enter.)

BFAR Mission Commander Captain Charles Manalo said the primary mission was to provide air cover to the "Christmas convoy" which brought supplies to the Ayungin Shoal.

(Our primary mission is to provide air cover to the supposed Christmas convoy.)

“For that Ayungin resupply, nakita natin dalawang Filipino vessels as well as ‘yung PCG vessel kaso tinataboy na sila ng mga Chinese vessel. Mukhang di sila nakadikit sa BRP Sierra Madre,” Manalo added.

(For the Ayungin resupply, we saw that two Filipino vessels and a PCG vessel were being blocked by a Chinese vessel. It seems like they won’t be able to reach BRP Sierra Madre.)

China also launched radio challenges against the aerial mission. 

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea over the weekend reported the harassment and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) on the resupply mission.

The task force said the CCG and the CMM vessels “harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers” against Philippine vessels on Sunday morning while they were on a RORE mission to the ship stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

The Philippines already lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident. 

China, meanwhile, has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Philippines over a Philippine vessel "insisting on rushing into" disputed waters in the South China Sea, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday at a regular news conference.

Earlier in the day, the US State Department described the Chinese vessels’ latest water cannon attacks against Philippine vessels on separate resupply missions in the Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal as a “reckless disregard” for the Filipinos’ safety and livelihoods and for international law.  —Sundy Locus with a report from Reuters/NB, GMA Integrated News