Disputed South China Sea airspace that Beijing claims as its own falls within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone, where the Philippines and other countries enjoy freedom of overflight.

A Philippine plane warned a Chinese military helicopter over the South China Sea that it was "flying too close," as tension between the U.S. ally and Beijing soars.

Manila has issued a terse statement against manoeuvres carried out by a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Harbin Z-9 helicopter, which was said to have executed