Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada has condemned China's latest use of flares, calling it irresponsible and dangerously provocative.

For the third time in two weeks, China launched flares on a Philippine aircraft, this time on a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane. 

"It is deeply concerning and must be condemned in the strongest terms," Estrada said in a statement on Saturday. Aug. 24.

"Such actions are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative. Deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance is neither professional, restrained nor standardized, contrary to China’s claims," he added.

Estrada furtherean irresponsible and blatant violation of international law, as well as an direct threat to the safety of Philippine personnel that could have led to serious harm or even loss of lives. 

"I call on China to cease these unlawful and extreme actions immediately. China should adhere to international law particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) and for the peaceful resolution of disputes in the West Philippine Sea," Estrada said.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) has called on China to stop its provocative actions in the WPS as it accused the latter of launching flares against a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft by the BFAR while it was conducting a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight within the territorial sea of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island on Aug. 22. 

"I call on the international community to join our government in holding China accountable for these reckless actions and reaffirm the importance of respecting international law and the sovereignty of nations," Estrada added.