On March 23, 2024, as China carried out water cannon attacks and aggressive maneuvers on Philippine vessels during the Ro-Re Mission in Ayungin Shoal, a separate incident unfolded. Filipino marine researchers from the U.P. & BFAR were conducting a legitimate marine resource assessment at Sandy Cay 3 and 4 within the Municipality of Kalayaan when a Chinese Navy helicopter performed hazardous low-flying maneuvers, hovering about 50 feet over Cay 3. For approximately 10 minutes. This caused distres