'Dangerous flying': Chinese navy helicopter came within three metres of patrol plane

A Chinese navy helicopter recently approached a Philippine patrol plane within three meters in a disputed area of the South China Sea, prompting the Philippine pilot to issue a warning over the radio: "You are flying too close, it's very dangerous." This close encounter highlights the increasing tensions in the region and the potential for miscalculation.

Reportedly, the Chinese helicopter was attempting to force a Cessna Caravan turboprop aircraft of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to leave airspace claimed by China near Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island), an area of intense dispute between China and the Philippines. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

This incident is the latest point of tension in a decades-long territorial standoff in one of the world's busiest trade routes. This also follows the Australian government's disclosure that a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was intercepted by two Chinese J-16 fighter jets last Tuesday while conducting routine surveillance patrols in the area. These events demonstrate the increasing assertiveness of China's military presence in the region.

One of the J-16 fighter jets released flares just 30 meters in front of the Australian aircraft. This prompted the Australian federal government to lodge a formal protest with China over the interception, calling it unsafe and unprofessional conduct. The use of flares in such close proximity posed a significant risk to the Australian aircraft and its crew.

During Tuesday's tense standoff, Associated Press journalists and other invited foreign media were aboard the Philippine aircraft, witnessing firsthand the plane conducting low-altitude patrols near Scarborough Shoal, while the Chinese navy helicopter circled above it or flew to its left side in cloudy weather. At one point, the Philippine pilot radioed the Chinese navy helicopter: "You are flying too close, it's very dangerous, endangering the lives of our crew and passengers." The presence of international media served to document the incident and bring it to the attention of the global community.

"Please stay away and keep your distance from our aircraft, you are violating the safety standards set by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)." The pilot was referring to the standard distances between aircraft required by the FAA and ICAO to prevent air accidents. There was no indication that the Philippine aircraft had to alter its planned route and altitude to avoid a collision. Maintaining safe distances is crucial to preventing accidents in congested airspace.

The Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries said in a statement that despite China's "aggressive and escalating actions," they remain "committed to upholding our sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea." They were referring to the Philippine name for the waters in the South China Sea closer to the western coast of the Philippines. The statement highlights the Philippines' determination to assert its claims in the face of Chinese pressure.

The Chinese military, referring to Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island) by its Chinese name, stated that the aircraft "illegally entered the airspace over China's Huangyan Island without the permission of the Chinese government." Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesman for the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, said in a written statement released online that the Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track, monitor, warn, and drive away the aircraft. The statement said that the Philippines was "confounding right and wrong and spreading false narratives." This response underscores China's firm stance on its territorial claims in the South China Sea.