America condemned the "maneuvers risky" of the Chinese Navy helicopter that put the Philippine surveillance aircraft in danger when it flew too close to a disputed Scarborough Shoal.
American Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned China's actions via a tweet post on X where she reaffirmed US support to the Philippines.
The Philippines Coast Guard said the Chinese helicopter came just three meters (10 feet) from a Philippine aircraft carrying journalists, putting the pilots and passengers of the latter in grave danger.
This new incident comes amidst ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The US has reaffirmed its support for its alliance with Manila, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio talked about China's "destabilizing actions" with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique A. Manalo at the Munich Security Conference 2025.
In January 2025, the US and the Philippines carried out a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea to enhance regional security and cooperation.
China claims about 90% of the South China Sea, leading to ongoing territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Brunei. In August 2024, tensions escalated when Philippine coast guard ships collided with Chinese vessels near a disputed reef.
The US has reaffirmed that its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines covers both nations' armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft—those of the Philippine Coast Guard included—anywhere in the South China Sea.
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