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.

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 Chinese military helicopter flew within 10 feet (3 meters) of a Philippine patrol plane over the South China Sea on Tuesday, in what observers said was the second incident of potentially catastrophic behavior by the People’s Liberation Army against foreign aircraft in a week.

The United States has condemned Chinas dangerous actions after a Chinese navy helicopter allegedly performed reckless maneuvers near a Philippine government aircraft patrolling the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the

The United States has criticized a Chinese navy helicopter's dangerous actions near a Philippine aircraft patrolling the Scarborough Shoal. This incident has heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed territories in the South China Sea.

China's military said it had expelled three Philippine aircraft from the disputed Spratly Islands in the Sea on Thursday, marking the latest in a series of dangerous aerial encounters amid heightened bilateral tensions.