MANILA - The Philippine coast guard accused the Chinese navy of performing dangerous flight manoeuvres on Feb 18, when it flew close to a government aircraft patrolling a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. “This reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers,” the coast guard said in a statement.

The Philippine Coast Guard condemned "dangerous" manoeuvres by a Chinese Navy helicopter Tuesday as it flew within three metres (10 feet) of a surveillance flight carrying a group of journalists over the contested Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippine coast guard on Tuesday accused a Chinese Navy helicopter of flying "dangerously" close to its patrol plane on Tuesday in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The Chinese helicopter flew within 10 feet of the Filipino plane as the pilot reportedly warned the Chinese: "You are flying too close,