China’s air and maritime coercion

Unsafe interactions with the Philippines

Unsafe interactions with others
Unsafe interactions with other countries

Unsafe interactions with the Philippines

Encounters between the Philippines and China have grown more tense and frequent since 2023. Beijing has been pressing its claims, while Manila refuses to cease its fishing and outpost resupply activities. The Philippines has also legally defined its own areas of maritime jurisdiction.

China has largely left it to its coastguard and maritime militia vessels to harass Philippine Government vessels; however, throughout the tensions, there have also been military-to-military incidents. This Pressure Points Tracker doesn’t capture unsafe incidents involving China’s coastguard and maritime militia against Philippines platforms; rather, it focuses on the times when China’s military has conducted unsafe activities against the Philippines.

What:

A Chinese Navy vessel conducts a dangerous manoeuvre in front of a Philippine Navy transport ship.

WheN and where:

13 October 2023, 5.8 nautical miles southwest of Thitu Island in the Spratly Islands.

Details:

The Philippine Navy transport ship was shadowed by a PLA Navy vessel. The Chinese vessel then attempted to cut closely across the bow of the transport ship. The dangerous manoeuvre posed significant risks to maritime safety.

Response:

The Armed Forces of the Philippines released a statement two days after the event, calling on China to cease such dangerous manoeuvres and aggressive actions towards Philippine vessels.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry said that the Philippines’ illegal occupation of “Zhongye Island” has seriously violated China’s sovereignty and that it’s reasonable and lawful for Chinese warships to patrol the waters near the island.

What:

Chinese military aircraft conduct dangerous manoeuvres and drop flares in the path of a Philippine military aircraft.

WheN and where:

10 August 2024, in airspace over the Scarborough Shoal.

Details:

Two PLA Air Force aircraft executed dangerous manoeuvres and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol over the Scarborough Shoal.

Response:

The Philippine Department of National Defense released a statement and imagery. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned the PLA Air Force’s ‘dangerous and provocative actions’.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry claimed not to be aware of the incident. Other Chinese commentators said that the Philippines had disrupted PLA training and accused Manila of ‘illegally intruding’ into its airspace.

What:

A PLA Navy helicopter flies within three metres of a Philippine patrol plane.

Where and when:

18 February 2025, in airspace over the Scarborough Shoal.

Details:

A Chinese military helicopter came within three metres of a Cessna Caravan turboprop plane belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Journalists and other invited foreign media on board the Philippine plane witnessed the tense 30-minute stand-off between China and the Philippines.

RESPONSE:

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries described China’s actions as ‘dangerous flight maneuvers’ and said that they remain ‘committed to asserting our sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, despite the aggressive and escalatory actions of China’.

In response, the Chinese military reportedly said that the plane had illegally entered the airspace of China’s Huangyan Island (China’s name for the Scarborough Shoal) without the PRC Government’s permission. It added that the Philippines had made a false accusation against China by calling China’s actions ‘dangerous’.

China’s Intercept Tactics

Next chapter:

Unsafe military interactions with others