Chinese Navy Helicopter Harasses Philippine Aircraft in West Philippine Sea

 

A Chinese PLA Navy helicopter conducted dangerous flight maneuvers near a Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft during a maritime domain awareness mission over the West Philippine Sea. The incident, which involved two close encounters—one as near as three meters—underscored ongoing tensions in the region.

Despite the harassment, Philippine authorities asserted their sovereign rights, emphasizing that such missions reaffirm the country's jurisdiction over its waters. Officials also discussed the potential deployment of additional aircraft for protection, enhanced defense cooperation with Japan, and the revival of a direct hotline between the Philippine and Chinese Coast Guards, which remains unformalized. While Chinese actions continue to escalate, the Philippines remains steadfast in defending its maritime domain.