Description: Around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea a close encounter has happened between a Chinese navy helicopter and Filippino patrol plane. Information indicated that Philippine’s air patrol was well within the country’s EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and that the Chinese helicopter has violated Philippines air space. The encounter comes as constant escalating tensions over the disputed trade routes in the South China Sea are becoming a serious security risk. Tensions previously escalated when a Chinese navy ship shortly entered Filippino waters after it was warned it violated territorial waters. The Philippines have also agreed upon the reshuffling of US Typhoon missiles on the island further infuriating China.
Impact: In a period of extensively heightened tensions in the Indo – Pacific, China seems to continuously reassert its military might and dominance in violation of international law. The South China Sea as a decades long dispute also entailed neighboring Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, however Chinese aggression seems to be solely focused on countering Filippino claims over the maritime trade route. This is most probably prompted by Philippine’s close and longstanding alliance with the US as China considers the Philippines a US proxy that forwards their interests and counters Chinese efforts for regional geopolitical and trade dominance. Encounters such as this could cause sizeable arms race in the region as the Philippines would aim at strengthening their defensive capabilities and solicitating continued US assistance and support.