A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter harassed a team of Filipino scientists at Thitu Island on Saturday by hovering at a close distance to one of its sand bars, the Philippines said on Tuesday. Some of the scientists and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) crew suffered from cuts and scratches due to the strong wind and debris caused by the chopper, BFAR said in a statement. The mission commander aborted the research work because of the incident. Thitu, which the Philippines calls Pag-asa Island, is the biggest contested island in the South China Sea. It lies about 300 miles (480 km) west of the Philippine province of Palawan.

Ordoñez, J. V. D., & Aquino, N. P. (2024, March 24). Manila: Filipino scientists harassed by Chinese chopper on Thitu Island. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.