U.S. bombers, Philippines jets fly over disputed shoal claimed by China
Two Air Force B-1 bombers flew over a disputed South China Sea shoal together with Philippines jet fighters, in the new Trump administration’s first show of force to China this week.
A day later, U.S., Australian, Japanese and Philippines naval forces conducted joint operations inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the sea, the Indo-Pacific Command said.
The bombers and three Philippines FA-50s conducted a joint air patrol and intercept exercise on Tuesday, said Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesman for the Hawaii-based Indo-Pacific Command. The flights were the first conducted since President Trump was inaugurated last month and are a continuation of regular U.S. aircraft and naval deployments in an area that China claims is its maritime territory.