The United States has issued a strong rebuke to China for its “dangerous” helicopter maneuvers conducted over the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. This criticism follows an incident on Tuesday when a Chinese navy helicopter reportedly flew alarmingly close—within just 3 meters—of a Philippine patrol aircraft operating in the area.
Growing tensions in the South China Sea
Tensions over Scarborough Shoal, an area located off the northwestern coast of the Philippines, have escalated in recent years amidst ongoing territorial disputes. The Philippine government has been particularly vocal about these confrontations, with Philippine officials expressing concerns over Chinese military activities.
MaryKay Carlson, the US ambassador to the Philippines, condemned China’s actions on Wednesday, emphasizing the risks they posed to both pilots and passengers. She stated,
“We condemn the dangerous manoeuvres by a PLA Navy helicopter that endangered pilots and passengers on a Philippine air mission. We call on China to refrain from coercive actions and settle its disputes peacefully in accordance with international law.”
Philippine commitment to sovereignty
According to foreign media representatives aboard the Philippine aircraft, the encounter involved a tense standoff lasting around 30 minutes, during which the Chinese helicopter hovered nearby. The pilot of the Philippine plane communicated with the Chinese crew, asserting,
“You are flying too close, you are very dangerous and endangering the lives of our crew and passengers.”
The Philippine Coast Guard, along with the Bureau of Fisheries, released a statement affirming their dedication to asserting the nation’s sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, despite what they described as China’s aggressive and escalatory tactics.
In its response, the Chinese military claimed that the Philippine aircraft had “illegally entered the airspace of China’s Huangyan Island without the Chinese government’s permission,” using its own designation for Scarborough Shoal.
Under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has rekindled its alliance with the United States, a shift from the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte, which leaned towards Beijing. This incident follows a similar occurrence just a week earlier, when Australia accused a Chinese pilot of engaging in unsafe maneuvers near an Australian surveillance plane.
China has repeatedly warned the US and its allies against interfering in its maritime disputes with neighboring countries, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the South China Sea.