Manila, Feb. 19 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday condemned the dangerous maneuvers of a China People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft in a recent encounter in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a press conference at the WPS Transparency Office in Quezon City, PCG Spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said the incident could have ended in disaster as the PLA Navy helicopter came as close as three meters from the BFAR aircraft conducting a maritime domain awareness (MDA) flight over Bajo De Masinloc on Tuesday.

The helicopter, he said, hovered over the left wing of the BFAR aircraft, with the helicopter's propeller wash pushing down on the ...