19-2-2025 (MANILA) The Philippines is set to lodge a formal diplomatic protest following what officials describe as an alarmingly close encounter between a Chinese military helicopter and a Philippine surveillance aircraft over the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
In an incident that marks a significant escalation of tensions, a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter reportedly flew within three metres of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries surveillance aircraft carrying journalists on an observation mission of Chinese vessels in the area.
Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela described the manoeuvre as “exceptionally dangerous”, noting that the downdraft from the helicopter’s rotors created turbulence that threatened the stability of the Philippine aircraft’s left wing.
The Philippine government will file a diplomatic protest over China’s dangerous flight maneuvers in very close proximity to a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft in Scarborough Shoal.
A PLA-Navy helicopter flies within 3 meters of Philippine patrol plane… pic.twitter.com/Gu944CY4TQ
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) February 18, 2025
“This unprecedented aggressive tactic represents a marked shift in China’s approach to territorial assertions in the region”, said Tarriela, speaking to local media. He confirmed that this was the first recorded instance of China employing military helicopters in such a provocative manner against Philippine reconnaissance flights.
The incident occurred at Scarborough Shoal, known locally as Bajo de Masinloc, a contested maritime feature situated 240 kilometres west of the Philippine mainland. The shoal has been a focal point of territorial disputes since China took control of the area in 2012, despite its proximity to the Philippines and distance of nearly 900 kilometres from China’s Hainan Island.
Chinese military officials swiftly countered Philippine accusations, with Southern Theater Command spokesperson Senior Colonel Tian Junli asserting that the Philippine aircraft had violated Chinese airspace over what they term “Huangyan Island”. The Chinese military stated their response followed standard protocols for tracking and expelling unauthorised aircraft.
