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.

China’s military said it drove away three Philippines aircraft “illegally” flying over the disputed Spratly Islands, marking the second aerial incident this week involving Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea.

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.