The Philippines called on China to "cease its illegal occupation and activities" in reclaimed features in the West Philippine Sea after People's Liberation Army (PLA) fired flares against am unarmed Philippine Coast Guard aircraft conducting maritime domain awareness flight over Kalayaan Island Group last Monday.

In a statement on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stressed that China's illegal occupation and "island-building" in Panganiban and Zamora Reefs does not change its legal status.

"China’s island-building on both features violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) and UNCLOS, as confirmed by the Award, and does not change the features’ legal status as a low-tide elevation," it stated.

"We call on China to cease its illegal occupation and activities in Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef immediately, and to abide by the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award," it added.

The agency noted that "as low-tide elevations, the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the features, and these can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor capable of appropriation under international law."

"The Department will continue to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, and champion the Philippines’ legitimate rights and interests in the maritime domain," it added.

The DFA issued its statement after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed that the People's Liberation Army discharged multiple flares against their aircraft conducting a legitimate Maritime Domain Awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on September 7.

"Prior to landing on Pag-asa Island, the PCG aircraft was challenged over radio by Chinese forces illegally occupying Zamora (Subi) Reef, which then fired flares in its direction. Chinese forces illegally occupying Panganiban (Mischief) Reef repeated the same actions," said PCG.

"In both instances, the PCG aircrew responded over radio that the presence of Chinese forces on these illegally reclaimed features is a violation of international law, and that the MDA flight is a routine and legitimate operation. The aircrew likewise observed a considerable number of Chinese Maritime Militia vessels sheltered inside the lagoons of both features," it added.

Deputy Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy Guo Wei claimed that "a Philippine aircraft intruded without authorization into the airspace near China’s islands and reefs, seriously infringing upon China’s sovereignty, seriously threatening the safety of Chinese personnel stationed there, and seriously violating international law and the basic norms governing international relations."

"China took necessary measures in accordance with the law to safeguard its sovereignty and security. The operations at the scene were professional, restrained, and conducted in a standardized manner," he said.

"China will continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and resolutely oppose all acts of infringement," the embassy deputy spokesperson added. Robina Asido/PHS