The US has accused China of “unsafe and irresponsible” action during a close encounter between a PLA helicopter and a Philippine plane over the South China Sea on Tuesday. In a statement on Wednesday, Washington also pledged continued support for American allies to ensure a “free and open Indo-Pacific”.

Just when we thought we had seen enough of China’s mischief right in our own waters, a few days ago we learned that China outdid itself yet again. On Feb. 18, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter performed aggressive maneuvers near a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane.

The United States reasserted its commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines following the “unsafe and irresponsible actions” of a Chinese military chopper over Bajo de Masinloc.

Secretary of State Rubio spoke with China's Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“The United States stands with its ally the Philippines to condemn the unsafe and irresponsible actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) to interfere with a Philippine maritime air operation in the vicinity of Scarborough Reef,” said State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a written statement.

Washington has called on Beijing to "refrain from coercive actions" after a Chinese military helicopter flew within three meters of a Philippine patrol aircraft over Scarborough Shoal yesterday — an incident that the Philippine Coast Guard believes is one of China's most provocative yet.

we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the regime accountable”, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

China supports all efforts conducive to peace talks in Ukraine, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, and stressed that Gaza and the West Bank are “not a bargaining chip in political tradeoffs.

China's military said it had expelled three Philippine aircraft from the disputed Spratly Islands in the Sea on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of dangerous aerial encounters amid heightened bilateral tensions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, in a meeting in Munich on Friday (Feb 14), discussed bilateral coordination in the South China Sea and increasing economic cooperation,