Debris from a Chinese rocket launched on Monday is projected to fall within Philippine archipelagic waters off the coast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, according to the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).

Citing a Notice to Airmen (NOTA) — a standard aviation advisory issued to alert aircraft operators of potential hazards or restricted areas — PhilSA confirmed that the Long March 12 rocket lifted off from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan, at 4:24 a.m. The Wenchang-based center, which began operations in 2024, is China's first commercial space launch site; the Long March 12 made its maiden flight from that center in November 2024.

The notice identified the drop zone as 25 nautical miles (NM), or 46.3 kilometers (km), from Puerto Princesa — the capital of Palawan province — and 19 NM, or about 35.19 km, from the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed marine sanctuary in the Sulu Sea. PhilSA said the designated area lies within Philippine archipelagic waters, a maritime designation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that places waters enclosed by an archipelagic state's baselines under that state's sovereignty.

The agency noted that debris fallout poses a growing hazard as global launch rates increase.

"The Philippines invites international partners to explore how our region can develop coordinated protocols and capabilities that protect both our space assets and our people on the ground," the agency added.

PhilSA also advised the public to inform local authorities if they encounter possible debris, as such fragments may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel — a caution relevant given the drop zone's proximity to the protected Tubbataha marine park.

Philippine authorities have previously monitored falling debris from Chinese rocket launches and issued public advisories over drop zones in the surrounding region.

Source: BusinessWorld Online — report by Francessca S. Abalos.