00:01China fires flares at an unarmed Philippine Coast Guard plane flying over Panganiban and Zamora Reefs in the West Philippine
00:07Sea Thursday, April 9.
00:09The PCG's West Philippine Sea spokesperson rear Admiral Jay Tariela calls the incident a clear and deliberate act of bullying.
00:16He says Chinese forces fired flares directly at a Philippine Coast Guard caravan aircraft while it was conducting routine flights
00:23over the Kalayaan Island group, which includes the two reefs.
00:26Tariela condemns China's actions as reckless and aggressive, saying they directly endangered the lives of Coast Guard personnel.
00:33The 2016 Arbitral Award identifies Panganiban and Zamora Reefs as low-tide elevations and thus part of the Philippines' 200
00:40-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
00:42But China has turned them into artificial islands and built military bases on them.
00:47The incident is the latest in a growing list of China's aggressive actions against Philippine vessels and aircraft in the
00:53West Philippine Sea.
Comments