Chinese military chopper tails BFAR plane over Panatag Shoal

Tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea have reached the skies of the disputed region after a Chinese military helicopter flew dangerously close to a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane on patrol last Saturday.

According to Ian Cruz’s report in 24 Oras on Monday, the BFAR aircraft was able to fly over Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal despite some radio warnings from a Chinese Navy warship.

Just a few minutes over the shoal, a Harbin Z-9 helicopter, a type of aircraft flown by China's naval and air forces, began trailing near the BFAR aircraft at a distance that is considered dangerous. This display prompted the BFAR pilot to issue a radio warning to the Chinese air crew.

“Chinese military helicopter, you are violating flight air safety prescribed by the FAA and ICAO. You are flying too close to our position at less than 50 feet,” said the Filipino pilot.

“You are endangering the safety of our crew and passengers. We are a Philippine government aircraft performing our mandate to fly and conduct maritîme survey over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal within our Exclusive Economic Zone. Be wary of safety and distance your aircraft from our position,” the pilot continued.

Instead of heeding the warning, the gray Chinese helicopter flew closer to the BFAR plane to as close as six meters.

Similar to the Chinese vessels, the PLAN chopper stayed near the shoal’s entrance, indicating Beijing’s control of the navigational waters and airspace of the area.

As the BFAR plane was about to fly away from Panatag Shoal, the Chinese Navy guided missile destroyer Hefei (174) was spotted 25 nautical miles east of the island. The warship has a helipad where the Z-9 helicopter could have flown from.

The warship transmitted a garbled radio challenge to the Filipino plane. 

“Philippine aircraft, this is Chinese navy warship…” the radio challenge said.

To which the BFAR plane responded: “You are way beyond the 200 nautical miles EEZ of your country. Please review your chart.”

On Sunday, China Coast Guard Vessel 3305 was also spotted north of Panatag Shoal. Six Chinese militia vessels were seen at the northeastern portion of the shoal.

After a few moments, the Chinese helicopter once more followed the BFAR plane but at a farther distance.

Panatag Shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which China is a signatory.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." China has not recognized the decision.
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News