The United States condemned the "dangerous" manoeuvres of a Chinese navy helicopter that endangered the safety of a Philippine government aircraft patrolling a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, its ambassador to Manila said on Wednesday.

France, which is a NATO member, and China have sent their aircraft carriers to the hotly contested South China Sea earlier this week, where territorial disputes remain unsolved. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

China opposes Vietnam's construction activities on a disputed islet in the South China Sea known as the Barque Canada Reef, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Occupied by Vietnam since the 1980s,

South China Sea disputes, affordability and political trust help Seoul gain foothold in Southeast Asian arms market, analysts say.

Indonesia's annual non-combat naval drills. Another close call between Philippine and Chinese military above South China Sea. US State Department's official website change on Taiwan draws China's ire.

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.

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.

China asserted on Friday that its territorial claims in the contested South China Sea are supported by a series of international treaties that date back to as early as the 1890s. Newsweek has reached out to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing for comment by email.

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.

Manila's coast guard said the Chinese navy helicopter performed dangerous flight maneuvers when it flew close to a government aircraft conducting surveillance over the Scarborough Shoal

China’s Southern Theatre Command releases video of earlier aerial encounter; US State Department says PLA was reckless in that incident.

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