The United States condemned what they described as another “dangerous maneuvers” by China after a Chinese navy helicopter flew just three meters away from the Philippine patrol plane in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)
In her X post, U.S Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carson said the incident put the lives of the pilots and the passengers in danger and called on the China to refrain from making coercive actions in the disputed territory.
“We condemn the dangerous maneuvers by a PLA Navy helicopter that endangered pilots and passengers on a Philippine air mission. We call on China to refrain from coercive actions and settle its disputes peacefully in accordance with international law,” Carson said.
Based on the video shared by the Philippine Cost Guard (PCG), the Chinese People’s Liberation Army navy helicopter hovered above and the left side of the Philippine plane before moving away again in their efforts to drive away the plane out of the airspace that China claims to be theirs.
The United States as one of the oldest allies of the Philippines has reiterated its strong commitment to defend the country from foreign aggressors under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
(PCG photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.