MANILA — The United States on Wednesday denounced China for what it called a “dangerous maneuver” by a Chinese military helicopter against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft conducting a patrol over Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, in a statement on X, urged China to halt its “coercive actions” and resolve disputes peacefully in line with international law.
“We condemn the dangerous maneuvers by a PLA (People’s Liberation Army) 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,” Carlson said.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), a PLA Navy helicopter, identified by tail number 68, conducted aggressive flight movements toward the BFAR aircraft during a maritime domain awareness mission on Tuesday.
The flight, which included PCG personnel and photojournalists, was part of routine surveillance operations in the area.
The helicopter reportedly flew as close as three meters to the port side and above the Philippine aircraft—an action the PCG described as a “clear violation and blatant disregard” of international aviation regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The National Maritime Council reaffirmed that the Philippines has “undeniable sovereignty and jurisdiction” over Bajo de Masinloc, adding that China’s “illegal, coercive, and aggressive behavior” would not deter the country from continuing its maritime patrols in the region.
In response to the incident, the Philippine government announced plans to file a formal diplomatic protest against China.