UK concerned over China chopper's 'dangerous moves' vs. PH aircraft

The United Kingdom has expressed concern over the “dangerous” maneuvers by a Chinese helicopter near an aircraft of the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources  (BFAR) over Scarborough Shoal.

“[The UK] is deeply concerned over reports of dangerous actions by a PLA Navy helicopter towards a [Philippine] BFAR aircraft over Scarborough Shoal,” said British Ambassador Laure Beaufils in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“These acts increase the risk of miscalculation, which endangers lives,” she added. “We call for adherence to international law, including UNCLOS.”

Scarborough Shoal is also referred to as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.

On Tuesday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the BFAR aircraft was holding a maritime domain awareness flight around 7 a.m. when the incident happened.

Coast Guard personnel and photojournalists were onboard when a PLAN helicopter with tail number 68 approached at 8:39 a.m., coming as close as three meters to the BFAR aircraft’s port side and above it.

But the People's Liberation Army Navy Southern Theater Command said the Philippines was spreading "false narratives" as regards the incident.

"On February 18, a Philippine C-208 reconnaissance aircraft illegally intruded into China's territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao without permission of the Chinese government. Moreover, the Philippine side spread false narratives by talking black into white," spokesperson Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli said.

The United States government has also criticized earlier the Chinese chopper’s actions and called on China to settle disputes in the West Philippine Sea “peacefully in accordance with international law.” — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RSJ, GMA Integrated News