In a bid to safeguard their territorial claims and national interests in the South China Sea, the Philippines and the United States conducted a joint air patrol on Monday as part of the third maritime cooperative effort.
This joint operation comes in the wake of escalating tensions in the region over competing territorial assertions. China's military had earlier accused the Philippines of exacerbating tensions by engaging in such cooperative activities with "extraterritorial countries" and subsequently publicizing them.
Joint Air Patrol to 'Protect' Territory
This photo taken on February 16, 2024 shows a Chinese vessel maneouvering close to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Tamblot near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines on February 17 accused Chinese coast guard vessels of "dangerous" manoeuvres for attempting to block a Filipino vessel dropping supplies to fishermen at a reef off the Southeast Asian nation's coast.
The joint air patrol was conducted with the aim of safeguarding their territory, according to the Armed Forces Public Affairs Chief Xerxes Trinidad.
"This is to enhance both armed forces' interoperability and enhance the capabilities of our air force (in) performing its mandate of protecting our territory, sovereign rights and national interests," said the military official from the Philippines.
In line with this, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) expressed its disapproval of the joint air patrol, stating that it had closely monitored the joint drills and maintained a high level of vigilance to defend national sovereignty.
The joint air patrol is part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation between the Philippines and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Air Force conducted the patrol as part of the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
The patrol involved three FA-50 fighter jets from the Philippine Air Force and a B-52H bomber aircraft from the United States. The aircraft covered areas west of Candon, Ilocos Sur, and northwest of Lubang, Mindoro, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
"This cooperative activity aims to bolster cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their US counterparts, thereby enhancing interoperability between its Air Forces," stated the Philippine Air Force.
Read Also: Philippines, Vietnam Forge Agreement to Manage Incidents in South China Sea
Rising Tensions in South China Sea
The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway, with China asserting sovereignty over nearly the entire area.
This claim overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several other nations including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Consequently, tensions have simmered as countries seek to assert their rights and interests in the region.
Last week, the Philippine fishing bureau leveled accusations against Chinese fishing vessels, alleging the use of cyanide to devastate Scarborough Shoal.
Nazario Briguera, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, asserted during a press conference that Chinese fishermen deploy cyanide into the shoal.
The use of cyanide in fishing is a pervasive practice that has resulted in the death of fish and the degradation of coral reefs for many years, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has been strengthening its defense ties with the United States while relations with China have soured.
This marks a departure from the policies of the previous administration led by Rodrigo Duterte, who favored closer relations with Beijing and refrained from engaging in joint military exercises with Washington.
Related Article: Filipino Bishops Condemn China's Aggressive Intrusions in South China Sea, Urge Fishermen Protection
