The United States has reiterated its commitment to the Philippines under the 74-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) as it condemned the recent harassment of a Chinese military helicopter against a patrol aircraft over the Scarborough Shoal.

In a statement, the US Department of State assures its continued support to the Philippines amid the recent harassment of China.

"The United States stands with its ally the Philippines to condemn the unsafe and irresponsible actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) to interfere with a Philippine maritime air operation in the vicinity of Scarborough Reef," US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated.

"A Chinese helicopter came within three meters of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and (Aquatic) Resources plane conducting routine overflight, endangering the safety of the aircraft and its crew," she added.

Bruce noted that "the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft ? including those of its Coast Guard ? anywhere in the South China Sea."

"Reckless Chinese actions such as these are a threat to navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and we will continue to support our allies and partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. We call on China to refrain from coercive actions and settle its disputes peacefully in accordance with international law," she said.

Bruce also cited that a week before the incident, China also made an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver that endangered an Australian aircraft that was conducting a routine maritime patrol in the South China Sea on February 11.

However, the Chinese Embassy in Manila accused US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson of allegedly "disseminating misleading narratives" after she condemned China's recent harassment against the BFAR plane in Scarborough Shoal.

"The US ambassador, disregarding the facts and distorting the truth, has unjustly accused China of its lawful maritime rights protection activities while disseminating misleading narratives," the Embassy of China in the Philippines said Thursday.

"Any rhetoric or actions that embolden the Philippines to pursue its illegitimate territorial claims through provocations and staged incidents are bound to be in vain," it added. Robina Asido/DMS