The U.S. government has condemned dangerous flight maneuvers conducted by a Chinese military helicopter to intimidate a Philippine government fisheries survey aircraft, the latest in a series of aggressive actions taken by Chinese military forces in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) claims a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) survey aircraft flying over Bajo De Masinloc was accosted by a People's Liberation Army Navy helicopter on 18 February.
The helicopter “performed dangerous flight maneuvers towards the BFAR aircraft,” according to a statement put out by the Philippines government.
“This reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers during the MDA flight,” it said.
The Chinese military helicopter came “as close as 3 meters” to the aircraft, the Philippine government claimed. Phillippine Coast Guard personnel and journalists were on the BFAR flight.
The Chinese military responded with a statement claiming the Philippine aircraft was operating in Chinese airspace and spreading false narratives about the incident.
“The Philippines has undeniable sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc,” the Philippine National Maritime Council said in a statement following the incident.
On the same day, the U.S. government condemned the Chinese helicopter’s maneuvers.
“We condemn the dangerous maneuvers by a PLA Navy helicopter that endangered pilots and passengers on a Philippine air mission,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in a statement on X. “We call on China to ...
