PH, US Air Force conduct next phase of 3rd joint patrol

Philippine Air Force’s FA-50 and US Air Force’s B-52H bomber aircraft fly over the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone on Feb 19, 2024 (Monday), 90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur; and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Mindoro. (PHOTO FROM THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and United States Air Force conducted the next phase of the third joint patrol in the West Philippine Sea on Monday.

The PAF and the United States Pacific Air Force carried out the Combined Air Patrol as the second phase of the 3rd Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Joining the patrols were PAF’s three FA-50s and one B-52H bomber aircraft from its US counterpart.

Their patrol covered areas 90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Mindoro.

“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,” the PAF said.

This activity is the continuation of the third MCA conducted last Feb. 9 over the West Philippine Sea.

Joining the first leg of the MCA were Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and AW109 Helicopter, together with the United States Indo-Pacific Command’s USS Gabrielle Giffords embarked with an MH-60S SeaHawk helicopter.

Two Chinese Navy vessels observed the drills as was China’s wont since its warships and aircraft were also spotted on previous MCAs. 

The second MCA of Manila and Washington was conducted last month, while the first-ever joint patrol was held in November 2023.

Such patrols were conducted amid tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.

The regular rotation and resupply mission of the country to the BRP Sierra Madre — a Navy ship grounded in Ayungin Shoal since 1999 — became the flashpoint of tension between Manila and Beijing.

In 2023 alone, the China Coast Guard (CCG) resorted to the usage of military-grade lasers once and water cannon at least four times against Philippine vessels doing resupply missions to the Navy outpost.

The CCG also routinely blocked and conducted what the Philippine government deemed to be “dangerous maneuvers” against its vessels.

Several incidents between Filipino vessels and CCG have also occurred in Scarborough Shoal.

Beijing’s actions are based on its assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the WPS, but an international tribunal ruling in 2016 effectively dismissed this while ruling heavily in favor of Manila.