Manila: Confirming reports of patrols by US aircraft over the South China Sea, Manila on Monday said these were part of “maritime situational awareness” flights carried to assert Philippine claims to disputed island territories.
Brigadier Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, said four US fixed-wing aircraft, and two attack helicopters flew over the area of the Panatag Shoal from Clark Air Base north of Manila on April 19.
Panatag Shoal, also referred to as Scarborough Shoal, is located 200km off Zambales in northwestern Philippines. This island territory and others in the same area are the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between the Manila and Beijing.
China claims the Panatag and much of the South China Sea as part of its maritime territory covered by the so-called nine-dash line.
The mission on Tuesday, conducted by the American aircraft, was aimed at asserting Philippines’ jurisdiction over the territory and the United States’ and other country’s aim to safeguard navigational freedom in an important international sea lane, officials said.
Boldest
“The flights by the US aircraft will help a lot in strengthening maritime security in the area,” Padilla said during a press briefing in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Manila’s suburb of Quezon City.
The flights were carried out by four US Air Force A10 ground attack aircraft and two Pave Hawk helicopters, and was the boldest patrol flight performed by American aircraft over the disputed area so far.
The combat patrol, which is expected to continue, had been part of the annual Balikatan “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” force readiness drills conducted by the Philippines and US military.
Earlier, Philippines Defence Secretary Volaire Gazmin said regular patrols would be carried out with US forces in the area.
“Our planners are examining ways to make such patrols part of our regular activities,” Gazmin said at the news conference.
America has been increasing its presence in the Philippines in recent years. Under the current administration of President Benigno Aquino III, US military assistance has grown several fold due to the increasing threat posed by China.
China has built up defensive structures in the South China Sea and is gradually increasing its claims to the disadvantage of other claimant countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brunei.
Earlier, Japan started sea patrols in the disputed areas.
US Defence Secretary Ash Carter during his visit to the country last week, said some 200 airmen will be left behind to maintain the US aircraft which also include the MC-130H Combat Talon II, an aircraft configured to carry special mission soldiers.
