South China Sea: Chinese navy helicopter flies close to Philippine plane

Footage release by the Philippine coast guard shows a Chinese navy helicopter flying close to a Philippine aircraft patrolling over a disputed area of the South China Sea on Tuesday, 18 February.

According to the coast guard, the helicopter flew within 3m of the Philippine plane, prompting the pilot to say: “You are flying too close, you are very dangerous,” over the radio.

The Philippine government said it would file a formal protest over the incident.

The Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has been contested between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.