The Philippines said a Chinese military aircraft fired flares near a Philippine patrol aircraft operating over disputed areas of the South China Sea, calling the action dangerous and provocative but reporting no damage or injuries, Bloomberg reported on April 9. Separately and incidentally, the Philippines inaugurated a new coast guard district command base on Thitu Island intended to support maritime patrols, law enforcement and search and rescue operations in contested waters, AP reported the same day.

In addition to resuming talks on the South China Sea on March 28 after years of non-engagement, Beijing on March 16 reportedly assured Manila that it would not restrict needed fertilizer exports, and on March 29 delivered more than 260,000 barrels of diesel to the Philippines amid global fuel shortages due to the Iran war. This delivery, alongside others to additional regional countries, is part of China's attempt to earn goodwill among import-dependent Southeast Asian economies.