Manila: The Chinese military helicopter tailing a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) air patrol over Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is “unprofessional” and “unsafe”, a ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday.
“These are unsafe maneuvers. They are uncalled for, unprofessional,” PN spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing.
He said they are leaving it to the BFAR to issue the “appropriate official statement” on the incident last Sept. 21 involving a Chinese Harbin Z-9.
Initially, a Chinese warship issued a radio warning against the Philippine aircraft.
Trinidad said tailing or getting too close to another aircraft increases the potential for any untoward incident and poses a danger for the pilots and passengers.
Such actions have no place in aviation and that rules of engagement and international law should be followed.
“Not only for aircraft but even for ships. Hence, the need for all the actions to be within the rules
of engagement and international law,” Trinidad said.
Source: Philippines News Agency