Philippine and US Air Forces recently conducted joint military exercises in the Philippine Sea to strengthen their bilateral ties and improve operational readiness.
The training involved the Philippine Air Force’s A-29 Super Tucanos, US Missouri ANG C-130 H2 Hercules, and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, aiming to enhance interoperability, close air support coordination, and air-to-ground capabilities.
“Philippine Air Force A-29 Super Tucanos, Missouri ANG C-130 H2 Hercules, and 25th Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fly in formation over the Philippine Sea for bilateral training,” the Pacific Air Forces said in a Facebook post over the weekend
The exercises, which ran from December 6 to 15, are part of the US Pacific Air Forces’ strategy to maintain operational readiness and promote a free Indo-Pacific region.
Additionally, the “Iron Swat” joint exercise took place from December 9 to 13 at Clark Air Base to improve mission integration and regional stability.
Meanwhile, tensions in the West Philippine Sea escalated as China accused the Philippines of provocation, claiming that the Philippines is influenced by the United States.
China warned of stronger countermeasures if the Philippines continued its actions, dismissing reports from the Philippines as illegitimate.
In another development, a Philippine Coast Guard official suggested that China Coast Guard (CCG) ship AIS data might have been spoofed to mislead authorities and create confusion. The PCG is intensifying its inspections of vessels, particularly dredgers in Manila Bay, to address potential AIS manipulation.
Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, earlier reaffirmed that Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) is an integral part of Philippine territory.
He criticized China’s recent actions, including declaring baselines around the shoal and submitting related coordinates to the UN, calling them violations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.
Lagdameo stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law in maritime disputes and emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to resolving such issues diplomatically.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to modernizing its Armed Forces, focusing on enhancing equipment and training to meet current and future challenges.
