A Chinese navy helicopter flew dangerously close to a Philippine patrol plane in the disputed Scarborough Shoal area of the South China Sea, leading to a tense 30-minute standoff where the Philippine pilot warned of safety violations. The Philippines remains committed to asserting its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, despite China’s aggressive actions, as confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces continue in the region. China, which rejected a 2016 UN-backed arbitration decision invalidating its expansive South China Sea claim, has deployed its coast guard and navy around Scarborough and other disputed areas.
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Military operations crippled as ALHs continue to remain grounded
The grounding of around 330 'Dhruv' advanced light helicopters (ALHs) following a fatal crash has severely impacted military operations for the Indian armed forces, which already face high crash rates and low serviceability of older helicopters. This has disrupted critical missions including reconnaissance and supply flights along borders with China and Pakistan, with the Army particularly affected due to its fleet of over 180 ALHs. The situation is compounded by delays in procuring new helicopters,...
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