Manila condemns ‘blatantly hazardous' flight of Chinese Z-9 helicopter over South China Sea

The Z-9 helicopter that was said to by flying close to a Philippine DA-BFAR aircraft on 18 February 2025. (Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)

Manila has issued a terse statement against manoeuvres carried out by a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Harbin Z-9 helicopter, which was said to have executed a “blatantly hazardous” act in the South China Sea.

In the statement issued on 18 February, the Philippine government's National Maritime Council claims that the Chinese helicopter flew within 3 m of a Philippine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft that was conducting maritime patrols above the Scarborough Shoal.

The Cessna was operated by the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), and it was carrying out patrols on the same day the statement was issued.

Accompanying the statement from the National Maritime Council were videos and photos of a Z-9 helicopter in PLAN livery with the tail number 68, all of which are claimed to have been taken from the DA-BFAR aircraft.

The presence of stub-wings on the airframe indicate that the helicopter is a Z-9W variant of the aircraft type, and it does not appear to be armed.

“This blatantly hazardous action endangered the safety of the pilots and passengers onboard. It demonstrated a lack of regard for internationally accepted norms on good airmanship and flight safety,” read the statement.

“The Philippines has undeniable sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc. China's illegal, coercive, and aggressive behaviour will not deter the Philippines from continuing the conduct of its routine maritime operations in accordance with its sovereignty over the shoal,” it added, using Manila's preferred term for the Scarborough Shoal.