What recent military action has China taken that escalated tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea?

China has recently escalated tensions through provocative military maneuvers in the South China Sea, specifically by deploying a Chinese Navy helicopter that flew dangerously close to a Philippine surveillance aircraft near Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine Coast Guard released images documenting this dangerous encounter, which occurred while the surveillance aircraft was carrying journalists over the disputed area. This helicopter, identified as belonging to the People's Liberation Army Navy, represents part of China's ongoing pattern of challenging Philippine sovereignty despite a 2016 international ruling against China's territorial claims. These aggressive actions mark a dramatic acceleration of the territorial dispute between the two nations in this strategically important region.