A Chinese military helicopter flew within three meters of a Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal, shaking the plane and forcing the pilot to stabilize mid-air, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
Officials called it China’s “most dangerous” act in the West Philippine Sea, prompting Manila to file a diplomatic protest.
Mid-Air Tension Over Scarborough Shoal
On the morning of February 18, a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter flew within three meters of a Cessna aircraft from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The BFAR plane was conducting a patrol when the Chinese aircraft suddenly appeared.
PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the incident nearly caused an accident. “The pilot really had a hard time stabilizing the aircraft,” he explained in a press conference on February 19. “Even the smallest miscalculation at that distance could have led to disaster.”
According to Tarriela, the Chinese helicopter hovered just three meters above the BFAR aircraft’s port side, its propeller wash creating strong turbulence that made the plane shake. The Filipino pilot had to issue a radio warning to the Chinese crew. “You are flying too close. You are very dangerous,” the pilot said over the radio.
Growing Pattern of Confrontations
This isn’t the first time Chinese forces have been accused of unsafe maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea. Last August, the Philippine government protested China’s use of flares to ward off a BFAR patrol plane near Scarborough Shoal.
Tensions have continued to escalate since the start of the year. Philippine maritime officials have reported an increased presence of China Coast Guard vessels inside the country’s exclusive economic zone. Among these is the massive CCG 5901, often called the “monster ship,” which has been patrolling off Zambales.
In January, another Chinese military helicopter disrupted a BFAR scientific research mission near Pagasa Cays. That incident involved both China Coast Guard vessels and a PLAN helicopter.
Manila’s Diplomatic Response
The Philippine government announced it would file a formal diplomatic protest over the latest encounter. Tarriela stressed the importance of making the international community aware of such incidents.
“This is an important procedure to show that we oppose these aggressive actions,” he said.
Officials acknowledge that diplomatic protests may not change Beijing’s behavior, but they say the Philippines must document and challenge each provocation.
US Condemns China’s Actions
The United States has responded to the incident, calling on Beijing to “refrain from coercive actions.”
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned the helicopter’s maneuver. “We condemn the dangerous actions that put pilots and passengers at risk,” she wrote on X.
The timing of the incident is notable. Just days earlier, newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. During the meeting, they discussed China’s actions in the South China Sea and reaffirmed their commitment to the US-Philippines alliance.
Beijing’s Claims and International Law
China maintains its sweeping claims over the South China Sea, despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that rejected its assertions. Scarborough Shoal, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, remains a focal point of tensions between Manila and Beijing.
Despite diplomatic protests and warnings from allies, China has continued to assert control over disputed waters. Philippine officials say they will not back down.
“We will continue to patrol our waters,” Tarriela said. “We will not be intimidated.”
