The Philippines has reported that flares launched from a Chinese island military base posed a threat to one of its fisheries aircraft.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine officials announced on Saturday that a plane belonging to the country’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources faced a serious threat when flares were fired from a Chinese island base during a routine patrol in the South China Sea. This incident highlights the escalating territorial disputes between Beijing and Manila over one of the globe’s busiest maritime trade routes, with tensions now spilling over from the contested waters into the airspace above them. For several years, China has been involved in contentious disputes with various nations across the Asia-Pacific region concerning its expansive maritime claims, which include nearly the entirety of the South China Sea.

On Thursday, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft was conducting its patrol near Subi Reef when it detected flares being launched from the fishing atoll, which China has transformed into a heavily militarized island base. This alarming event was detailed in a statement released by a Philippine government interagency task force, underscoring the ongoing challenges and risks faced by Philippine patrols in these strategically important waters. As confrontations continue to escalate, both countries remain at a stalemate over their competing claims in the region.