Dangerous Manoeuvres: Philippine Coast Guard Condemns Chinese Navy Helicopter’s Close Encounter
Incident Highlights Tensions in South China Sea
The Philippine Coast Guard has condemned "dangerous" manoeuvres by a Chinese Navy helicopter that flew within three metres of a surveillance flight carrying a group of journalists over the contested Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday.
Close Call for Pilots and Passengers
An AFP photographer on the flight described seeing the helicopter tail the plane before drawing near the left wing, close enough to see personnel aboard filming them. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter had been "as close as three metres" to the fisheries bureau’s Cessna, the coast guard said in a statement. "This reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers."
Background: The Scarborough Shoal
The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea, has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding this has no legal basis.
First Time a PLAN Helicopter Has Been Used Against a Philippine Patrol Plane
Coast guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela told reporters that Tuesday’s incident was the first time a PLAN helicopter had been used against a Philippine patrol plane in such a manner. "Less than 10 feet. So that’s very dangerous. It can definitely affect the stability of the aircraft," Tarriela said during a briefing after the incident.
Escalation Concerns
Asked if the encounter marked an escalation, Tarriela said he believed China was taking a "calibrated approach" to such interactions, while reiterating President Ferdinand Marcos’s declaration that the country’s mutual defence treaty with the United States could be invoked if a death were to result.
China’s Response
Tian Junli, spokesperson for China’s Southern Theater Command and senior colonel of the Air Force, said the Philippine aircraft had "illegally intruded into Chinese airspace over Huangyan Island", using the Chinese name for the shoal. He said naval and air units were deployed "to track, monitor, warn, and expel the aircraft in accordance with the law and regulations", adding that the "actions of the Philippine side seriously violated China’s sovereignty".
Incidents of Aggressive Behavior
The incident comes less than a week after Australia rebuked Beijing for "unsafe" military conduct, accusing a Chinese fighter of releasing flares within 30 metres of a surveillance plane patrolling above the South China Sea. In December, the Philippines said the Chinese coast guard used water cannon and "sideswiped" a government fisheries department vessel.
Flare-ups in the South China Sea
The Scarborough Shoal has been the site of repeated confrontations as Manila has resupplied Filipino fishermen in the area. It lies 240 kilometres west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese land mass.
Defence Cooperation with the United States
Manila and treaty ally Washington have deepened their defence cooperation since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back against China’s claims to the South China Sea. The Philippines said in December it hoped to acquire the US Typhon missile system as part of a push to secure its maritime interests.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and the need for a peaceful resolution to the disputes. The Philippines and China must work together to find a mutually beneficial solution that respects the sovereignty of both nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened in the incident?
A: A Chinese Navy helicopter flew within three metres of a surveillance flight carrying journalists over the Scarborough Shoal, posing a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers.
Q: What is the background to the incident?
A: The Scarborough Shoal has been a flashpoint between the Philippines and China since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. China claims the South China Sea almost in its entirety despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding this has no legal basis.
Q: What is the response from China?
A: China’s Southern Theater Command and Air Force spokesman Tian Junli said the Philippine aircraft had "illegally intruded into Chinese airspace over Huangyan Island" and that naval and air units were deployed to "track, monitor, warn, and expel" the aircraft in accordance with the law and regulations.