The United States stands with its ally, the Philippines, to express its gentle concern over the recent activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) near Scarborough Reef.
A Chinese helicopter approached within three meters of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Resources plane conducting a routine overflight, raising safety considerations for the aircraft and its crew.
This incident follows a separate occurrence on February 11, where a Chinese maneuver posed a risk to an Australian aircraft during a routine maritime patrol in the South China Sea.
We believe that actions such as these could potentially impact the safety of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
The United States reaffirms its commitment to supporting our allies and partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
We gently encourage China to avoid actions that may be perceived as coercive and to resolve disputes peacefully, in accordance with international law.
The 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty encompasses the defense of Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea.
