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 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.

Maritime tensions between China and the Philippines were in the spotlight at the Munich Security Conference, with former Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying calling the occupation of disputed features in the South China Sea “a red line.”