US Criticizes China for 'Hazardous Actions' Against Philippine Aircraft
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Synopsis
The United States has condemned the reckless actions of a Chinese Navy helicopter that posed a threat to a Philippine aircraft, reaffirming its commitment to support the Philippines amidst ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.
Key Takeaways
- US condemns Chinese helicopter maneuvers
- Incident involved a Philippine surveillance flight
- Philippine Coast Guard reported the close encounter
- US and Philippines reaffirm alliance at Munich Security Conference
- Ongoing tensions in the South China Sea
Manila, Feb 19 (NationPress) The United States has publicly condemned the dangerous maneuvers executed by a Chinese Navy helicopter towards a Philippine aircraft on Tuesday.
US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, expressed her strong disapproval on X, stating, “We condemn the dangerous maneuvers by a PLA Navy helicopter that endangered pilots and passengers on a Philippine air mission.”
The Philippines Coast Guard reported that the Chinese Navy helicopter came within three meters (10 feet) of a surveillance flight that was carrying a group of journalists over the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
According to a statement from the Philippines Coast Guard, “Around 0839 hours, a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) helicopter performed dangerous flight maneuvers towards the BFAR aircraft. This reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers during the MDA flight.”
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2025, where they reaffirmed the United States' commitment to its alliance with the Philippines. The discussions included ongoing bilateral coordination to address China's “destabilising actions” in the South China Sea.
In January 2025, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Navy engaged in a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea, showcasing a collective commitment to enhancing regional and international cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
China asserts sovereignty over roughly 90 percent of the South China Sea, while Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam have competing claims. In recent years, China's assertiveness in the region has escalated. The most contentious disputes between the Philippines and China primarily revolve around the Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands.
In August 2024, the Philippine government claimed that two of its coast guard vessels sustained damage after colliding with Chinese ships that were performing “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” near a disputed reef in the South China Sea. Beijing, in turn, accused Manila's vessels of having “seriously violated” China's sovereignty and vowed to take “forceful measures.”
The United States has reaffirmed its steadfast support and collaboration with the Philippines, emphasizing that the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty encompasses both nations’ armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft—including those of the Coast Guard—across the South China Sea.
