U.S. Reaffirms Support for the Philippines in South China Sea

Washington, D.C., February 19, 2025 – The United States stands with its ally, the Philippines, in condemning unsafe and irresponsible actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN). The incident involved a Chinese helicopter coming within three meters of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Resources plane during a routine overflight near Scarborough Reef, endangering the safety of the aircraft and its crew.

This follows a similar incident on February 11, when a Chinese maneuver endangered an Australian aircraft conducting a routine maritime patrol in the South China Sea. These reckless actions by China pose a threat to navigation and overflight in the region.

The U.S. calls on China to refrain from coercive actions and resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law. The 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty covers armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of its Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea.