Helicopter from China Navy tails BFAR plane doing maritime survey in Bajo de Masinloc
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00:00A Chinese helicopter was at the tail of a B-4 plane and flying dangerously close while the plane performed an evaluation mission earlier today over the West Philippine Sea.
00:10So the shadowing intimidation tactics against B-4's aerial expedition did not count the Filipinos in the air as our Patrick De Jesus reports.
00:18During the maritime survey of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or before this Monday at Bajo de Macinloc or Scarborough Shoal,
00:30a helicopter from the People's Liberation Army or PLA Navy of China was in tailing.
00:36The Chinese helicopter drew closer as the B-4 Cessna caravan plane continued its flight over the lagoon of Panatag Shoal.
00:45The helicopter got as close as 6 meters to the B-4 plane.
00:49Through a radio challenge, the B-4 pilots warned the PLA Navy helicopter that its proximity was dangerous.
00:58Chinese military helicopter, you are violating a flight air safety prescribed by the FAA and ICAO.
01:06You are flying too close to our position at less than 50 feet.
01:10You are endangering the safety of our crew and passengers.
01:14We are filming government aircraft performing a marine-client-adopt-maritime survey over Bajo de Macinloc or Scarborough Shoal within our Exclusive Economic Zone.
01:26Be wary of safety and distance your aircraft from our position.
01:30A PLA Navy warship was also spotted 25 nautical miles from Bajo de Macinloc, possibly the origin from where the Chinese helicopter took off even during the second aerial inspection.
01:43Later this afternoon, the PLA Navy helicopter continued to follow the B-4 plane.
01:49Also monitored during the maritime survey at Bajo de Macinloc was a China Coast Guard ship and six Chinese maritime militia vessels outside the lagoon.
01:59Inside the lagoon, two Chinese maritime militia ships were spotted anchored side by side.
02:05No radio challenge was received from the Chinese assets during B-4's maritime patrol earlier.
02:12The B-4 says the plane flew as low as 100 feet above sea level over the reef asserting Philippine presence.
02:20This is not the first time China has engaged in harassment in Philippine airspace.
02:26Last month, PLA Air Force fighter jets released flares during separate maritime patrols conducted by the Philippine Air Force and B-4.
02:36Patrick de Azuz, from The National TV, for a new and better Philippines.