Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine government has condemned the dangerous maneuvers of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) helicopter against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft during the latter’s patrol over Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, February 18.
“This blatantly hazardous action endangered the safety of the pilots and passengers onboard. It demonstrated a lack of regard for internationally accepted norms on good airmanship and flight safety,” the National Maritime Council said in a statement.
The government says the Philippine aircraft was conducting a legitimate maritime domain awareness flight when it was harassed by a PLA Navy Harbin Z-9 helicopter with tail number 68.
The Chinese helicopter flew and hovered as close as three meters above the BFAR-operated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, endangering the pilots and journalists on board.
“The Philippines will not waver in its duty to safeguard its maritime interests over the shoal, in accordance with Republic Act 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, as well as international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. The Philippine government will also issue a formal diplomatic protest over this grave incident,” the council added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to confirm when the protest will be filed against Beijing.
China military: PH aircraft intruded into Chinese airspace
In a statement, the naval and air forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command claimed that they had monitored and warned a Philippine aircraft off what they considered their territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao, China’s name for Scarborough Shoal.
“Without the approval of the Chinese government, the Philippine aircraft illegally intruded into Chinese airspace,” PLA Southern Theater Command spokesperson Tian Junli said.
Beijing accused Manila of spreading false narratives.
“The acts of the Philippine side severely violated China’s sovereignty as well as international law and Chinese law,” Tian added.
He also said Chinese forces will remain on high alert to assert their national sovereignty in the South China Sea.
The Philippines asserts its position based on the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea. Beijing, however, continues to reject the ruling, calling it illegal and void.
