The U.S. and the Philippine air forces conducted joint patrol exercises over the South China Sea on Tuesday, as Manila monitored three Chinese vessels in its maritime zones, according to a Philippine Air Force spokesperson.
The one-day joint air patrol exercise with the US Air Force was being carried out in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines Air Force spokesperson Maria Consuelo Castillo said, using Manila’s term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.
Exercise Over Disputed Shoal
Castillo said the two Philippine FA-50 fighter aircraft and two U.S. B1-B bombers were taking part in the exercises, which will include flying over Scarborough Shoal, a disputed maritime feature in the South China Sea which China controls.
“This is not in relation to any particular issue. This is just part of the usual training we have,” Castillo told a media briefing.
Security engagements between the two treaty allies have ramped up under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., against a backdrop of rising tensions between Manila and Beijing due to their overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
‘Eyes’ On Chinese Navy Vessels
At the briefing, the Philippine navy said it was “closely monitoring” three Chinese navy vessels within Manila’s maritime zones, including a Jiangkai class guided missile frigate.
“The presence of PLA-N (People’s Liberation Army-Navy) reflects the People’s Republic of China’s complete disregard for international law and undermines the peace and stability in the region,” navy spokesperson John Percie Alcos said.
State news agency Xinhua reported on Monday the passage of the Chinese fleet was consistent with international law, quoting a spokesperson from the PLA’s Southern Theater Command.
China’s ‘Harassment’
Recently, the Philippines said that it had halted a scientific research survey in the South China Sea following reports of “harassment” and aggressive actions by China’s coast guard and navy toward two of its fisheries vessels.
Manila and Beijing have had a series of escalating confrontations in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
China claims almost all the strategic waterway – through which $3 trillion in commerce moves annually – overlapping sovereignty claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
(With inputs from Reuters)
