Ambassador: US to continue South China Sea flights, sail-bys

US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, right, is presented a Chinese New Year scroll by journalist Wilson Flores during a forum Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 at suburban Quezon City, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Goldberg talked about the issue in the South China Sea involving the Philippines and China as well as the global fight against terrorism. Flores said the message wishes Goldberg good health. AP

MANILA, Philippines — The US ambassador says joint patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea are possible when the United States demonstrates its freedom to navigation by sending planes and ships into China-claimed areas.

Manila protested when a commercial Chinese aircraft landed recently on one of several artificial islands Beijing has built in the Spratlys, and officials say China has essentially declared an air defense identification zone over the sea by issuing “provocative” challenges to Philippine military flights in the area.

READ: China says US island sail-by dangerous and irresponsible

Ambassador Philip Goldberg said Wednesday that the US and the Philippines both have deep interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and he is not discarding the possibility of joint patrols in the area.

Two US warships have sailed by China-claimed islands in the Spratly and Paracel island chains since October.