The US Navy has released videos of its recent flight operations over the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), which exposed China’s aggressive expansion in the region.
The video footage was taken from a P-8A Poseidon plane, their most advanced surveillance and submarine-hunting aircraft. It documented China’s repeated warnings to leave the disputed seas. They were asked to leave eight times for that mission alone.
READ: ‘Go away,’ China tells US spy plane in West PH Sea — report
The mission, which included a CNN team onboard, revealed China’s ongoing reclamation activities and the presence of its warships and coast guard ships in the Spratly Islands. It was also the first time that Pentagon allowed media to join such mission.
READ: US planes keep distance from Chinese ‘islands’ — for now
Based on the video, the plane took off from Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
China claims most parts of the resource-rich West Philippine Sea, which is also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
The Philippines has also experienced challenges from China in its air patrols recently. IDL