The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) accused the Chinese navy of “aggressive and escalatory actions,” when a navy helicopter flew close to a Philippine aircraft patrolling a contested shoal in the South China Sea.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said an aircraft from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was conducting “a maritime domain awareness flight” over the Scarborough Shoal, a triangular series of reefs inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

It said that around 8:39 a.m., a People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter, “performed dangerous flight maneuvers” in the vicinity of the BFAR aircraft, moving to within three meters of the aircraft. A video released by the PCG shows the Chinese chopper swooping momentarily toward the upper port side of the BFAR aircraft, before flying away.

“This........

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