Footage released 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.