Tue Feb 04 17:46:22 UTC 2025: ## US and Philippines Conduct Joint Air Patrol Over Disputed South China Sea Shoal
**Manila, Philippines – February 5, 2025** – The United States and the Philippines conducted a joint air patrol and training exercise over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. This marked the first such joint operation since the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The exercise involved two U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers and three Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets, practicing air intercept techniques. The patrol comes after an incident last August where Chinese fighter jets fired flares near a Philippine aircraft patrolling the same area. Philippine officials condemned the previous actions as aggressive and a violation of international law.
While it remains unclear if the joint patrol encountered any Chinese challenges, Philippine Air Force spokesperson Maria Consuelo Castillo stated that the forces were prepared for any contingency. Castillo emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to patrolling its sovereign airspace, regardless of any coercive actions from other nations.
The joint operation aims to enhance operational coordination, improve air domain awareness, and reinforce agile combat employment capabilities between the two air forces. The increased military cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines follows concerns among Washington’s Asian allies regarding the commitment of the “America First” policy to regional security. The Scarborough Shoal, claimed by both China and the Philippines, remains a major flashpoint in the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The U.S. has reiterated its commitment to defending the Philippines under their mutual defense treaty.
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