Philippines, China clash over ‘dangerous’ air encounter in contested waters

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Philippines and China made conflicting claims on Tuesday about a mid-air encounter over disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Manila’s Coast Guard accused Beijing of "dangerous flight maneuvers" after a close engagement between a Chinese military helicopter and a Philippine aircraft.

The incident took place over a contested atoll known as Scarborough Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, or Huangyan Dao.

The “dangerous encounter” occurred during a “maritime domain awareness flight,” Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said on X.

He said the Chinese helicopter posed “a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers.”

The aircraft allegedly came within 3 meters (9.8 feet) of the port side and above the Philippine plane, raising “significant concerns” over what Tarriela described as the Chinese navy’s “clear violation and blatant disregard” for international aviation regulations.

Chinese military spokesman Senior Colonel Tian Junli rejected the claims, saying the Philippine aircraft had “illegally trespassed into Chinese airspace.”

“The Philippine actions seriously violated China's sovereignty and relevant provisions of international and Chinese laws,” Junli said, adding: “Huangyan Dao is China's territory.”

He accused Manila of attempting to assert “illegal sovereignty claims through military provocations” and misleading international perception, vowing that Chinese forces would “defend national sovereignty and security as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea.”