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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