A Chinese frigate fired illumination rounds or flares at a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane on reconnaissance patrol over the country’s Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the disputed Spratlys last Sunday. Top defense and military officials said the illumination rounds could have originated from the powerful searchlights of a Chinese warship. The Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that the international arbitral tribunal hearing the Philippines’ case against China’s territorial claim might issue a ruling within the first quarter of 2016.

Laude, J., Lee-Brago, P., & Romero, A. (2015, April 24). Chinese ship fires flares at PAF plane over Kalayaan. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 11.