‘Unsafe and irresponsible’: US weighs in on China-Philippines aerial encounter over shoal
The US has condemned China's "unsafe and irresponsible" actions after a Chinese navy helicopter flew within 3 meters of a Philippine patrol plane near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The US State Department pledged to support its ally, the Philippines, and called on China to refrain from coercive actions and settle disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, emphasizing the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
The incident occurred on Tuesday when a PLA helicopter engaged in a tense 30-minute encounter with a Philippine C-208 utility plane. According to the PLA's Southern Theatre Command, the Chinese forces tracked, monitored, and warned the Philippine aircraft to leave, claiming the Philippines violated China's sovereignty and relevant international laws. The US, however, views such actions as a threat to navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
The US has condemned China's "unsafe and irresponsible" actions after a Chinese navy helicopter flew within 3 meters of a Philippine patrol plane near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The US State Department pledged to support its ally, the Philippines, and called on China to refrain from coercive actions and settle disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, emphasizing the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."
The incident occurred on Tuesday when a PLA helicopter engaged in a tense 30-minute encounter with a Philippine C-208 utility plane. According to the PLA's Southern Theatre Command, the Chinese forces tracked, monitored, and warned the Philippine aircraft to leave, claiming the Philippines violated China's sovereignty and relevant international laws. The US, however, views such actions as a threat to navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
