On Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) denounced an incident involving an aircraft from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and a helicopter from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China.
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The episode occurred while the Philippine aircraft was conducting a maritime domain awareness flight over the disputed area of Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal.
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Chinese helicopter approached within three meters
According to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the BFAR C-208 reconnaissance aircraft took off around 7:00 AM (local time), and the incident happened at 8:39 AM. Members of the Coast Guard and photojournalists were on board when a Chinese military helicopter, tail number 68, dangerously approached.
“The PLAN helicopter came as close as three meters from the port side of the BFAR aircraft and hovered above it, posing a serious risk to the safety of pilots and passengers,” Tarriela stated.
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In addition to the imminent risk of collision, Tarriela emphasized that the aggressive maneuvers of the Chinese helicopter violated the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which governs global air safety.
China denies accusations, calls it “false narratives”
Following the Philippine government’s complaint, China rejected the allegations. In a statement, the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) accused the Philippine government of spreading “false narratives” about the incident.
“On February 18, a Philippine C-208 reconnaissance aircraft illegally intruded into China’s territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without permission from the Chinese government. Additionally, the Philippine side spread false narratives, distorting the facts,” stated Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese Air Force.
The Philippine government announced that it would file a formal diplomatic protest against Beijing over the incident.
Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles (229 km) from Masinloc, Zambales, within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The area has been a hotspot for territorial disputes between China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a critical maritime corridor handling over $3 trillion in global trade annually.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring that China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea had “no legal basis.” However, China refused to recognize the ruling, continuing to strengthen its military presence in the region by constructing artificial islands and expanding its naval infrastructure.
Source and images: Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
