The United States has strongly criticized a hazardous aerial maneuver executed by a Chinese military helicopter against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft. The incident occurred during a routine patrol over the Scarborough Shoal, known locally as Bajo de Masinloc. US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, expressed her condemnation via a statement on social media platform X, urging China to cease its coercive activities in the area. She highlighted the endangerment of the pilots and passengers on the Philippine mission by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter, identified by tail number 68. The BFAR plane was on a maritime surveillance mission, accompanied by members of the Philippine Coast Guard and photojournalists, when the Chinese helicopter approached within three meters of the aircraft, a move deemed a flagrant violation of international aviation safety standards by the Philippine Coast Guard. The National Maritime Council of the Philippines reaffirmed the country’s sovereignty over the shoal and vowed to continue its maritime operations despite China’s aggressive actions. The Philippine government plans to lodge a formal diplomatic protest in response to the incident.
US Slams China’s Perilous Aerial Tactics Against Philippine Patrol Aircraft
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