The Philippines has vowed to continue its regular maritime operations in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, despite the dangerous and unprofessional maneuvers by a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Harbin Z-9 helicopter. The incident occurred on February 18, 2025, when the Chinese helicopter engaged in hazardous flight patterns against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft during a routine surveillance mission over the area.
The National Maritime Council (NMC) condemned the Chinese actions, stating that they endangered the lives of the pilots and passengers and showed a blatant disregard for international aviation safety standards. The NMC emphasized that the Philippines holds undeniable sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc and will not be intimidated into halting its maritime activities.
In response to the incident, the Philippine government plans to file a formal diplomatic protest, asserting its commitment to protecting its maritime interests in accordance with national and international laws, including the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros strongly criticized the Chinese Navy’s actions, describing them as an escalation of aggression within Philippine territory. She highlighted that Philippine aircraft have the legal right to operate within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under UNCLOS. Hontiveros also pointed out that the Chinese helicopter’s actions violated International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations, which require prior authorization for state aircraft to fly over another country’s territory.
Hontiveros called on the international community, especially nations in the Indo-Pacific region, to support the Philippines in countering China’s aggressive behavior, which she said consistently breaches international maritime and aviation norms despite China’s commitments to UNCLOS and ICAO.