A Chinese naval helicopter came dangerously close to a Philippine plane, escalating tensions between the two countries.
According to the BBC, based on a video released by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese naval helicopter came dangerously close to a Philippine plane that was patrolling the disputed area of the South China Sea on February 18. The helicopter came within three meters of the Philippine plane, prompting the pilot to warn the Chinese plane over the radio.
China has claimed ownership of Scarborough Shoal, where the incident occurred, for years, and the area has remained a point of dispute between the Philippines and China.
After the incident, the US ambassador to the Philippines condemned the Chinese naval helicopter for coming dangerously close to the Philippine government plane. The Philippine government reiterated its commitment to protecting its sovereignty over the area and expressed its serious concern over the unprofessional behavior of the Chinese side and plans to lodge a formal diplomatic protest.
China has rejected the Philippines' claims, accusing it of illegal intrusion and spreading false information.