Philippines Conducts Maritime Domain Awareness Mission Above Scarborough Shoal

SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, SOUTH CHINA SEA - FEBRUARY 18: A Chinese Navy helicopter flies above Scarborough Shoal as seen from aboard a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane on February 18, 2025 in the South China Sea. A Chinese Navy helicopter nearly collided with a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources plane in the latest flare-up of tensions between the two countries in the disputed waters. The incident occurred when the Chinese Navy deployed a helicopter to tail the Philippine civilian plane, which was conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight over Scarborough Shoal, located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)