PCG SAYS Int'l backlash taught China lesson after dangerous mid-air incident

Chinese military aircraft kept its distance from a Philippine patrol plane flying over Scarborough Shoal on Monday, March 24 —achange the Philippine Coast Guard attributes to the international backlash that followed China’s “reckless” flight maneuvers last month.

- 

‘A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter was seen tailing a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane at a distance of three miles in the airspace above Scarborough Shoal on Monday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

This stands in stark contrast to last month’s incident when a Chinese helicopter came within just three meters of a BFAR plane conducting similar patrols.

“For the [maritime domain awareness] flight, what we monitored is the deployment of the PLA Naval Air Force helicopter... But surprisingly, it didn’t come close.” PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela told reporters during a press conference late Monday afternoon.

“I would like to believe that the PLA Navy helicopter has already learned from the backlash of the condemnation of the international community that what they did is reckless and dangerous,” Tarriela said.

WHAT CAME BEFORE