OVER THE SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, South China Sea (AP) — A tense incident occurred on Tuesday when a Chinese navy helicopter came dangerously close to a Philippine patrol plane in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The Philippine pilot, operating a Cessna Caravan turboprop from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, warned the Chinese helicopter over the radio that its proximity was hazardous, stating, “You are flying too close, you are very dangerous.” This incident highlights the ongoing territorial disputes in the region.
The altercation lasted approximately 30 minutes, during which the Philippine aircraft conducted low-altitude patrols around Scarborough Shoal, a location heavily contested by both nations. The Chinese helicopter was reportedly attempting to assert control over what China claims as its airspace, putting pressure on the Philippine patrol activities. The Philippine pilot reiterated the danger posed by the close flight path of the Chinese helicopter, referencing safety standards set by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Despite the threatening proximity of the Chinese helicopter, the Philippine plane did not change its direction or altitude to avoid a potential collision. In response to the incident, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries affirmed their commitment to asserting the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, which is how the Philippines refers to the area closer to its western coast.
Chinese officials have not yet commented on this specific confrontation. However, in previous encounters involving territorial disputes, they have consistently emphasized their sovereignty claims over Scarborough Shoal and nearby waters, cautioning that they will protect their territorial interests fiercely.
Tuesday’s incident is indicative of the escalating tensions in the region, likely to provoke a formal protest from the Philippine government. The South China Sea remains a critical confrontation point involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, with recent years seeing a notable increase in confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guards, particularly around Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoal.
Since 2012, when China deployed its naval forces to Scarborough following a standoff with Philippine ships, the situation has remained precarious. The Philippines sought international arbitration in 2013, which culminated in a 2016 decision by a United Nations-backed arbitration panel that invalidated China’s broad claims in the South China Sea under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite being a signatory to UNCLOS, China rejected the arbitration outcome and has continually challenged its validity.
The Philippine government, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has pursued a strategy to counter China's aggressive actions. This includes allowing journalists, both local and foreign, to accompany Philippine sea and air patrols to raise awareness of China's assertiveness. Furthermore, the Philippines has been enhancing its security alliances with various countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, France, Canada, and members of the European Union, as a means to bolster its defense capabilities.
According to the United States, it remains obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, should Filipino forces, ships, or aircraft be subject to armed attacks, including in the contentious waters of the South China Sea. Conversely, China has admonished the United States and its allies against intervening in what it regards as a purely Asian dispute.
