BANGKOK– The United States and the Philippines are conducting joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea, which comes as the two countries step up cooperation in the face of increasingly aggressive Chinese activity in the area.
The Philippine Air Force said Wednesday that its planes had participated in joint patrols on Tuesday near Batanes, the Philippines’ northernmost province, which is only about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims. as his own.
The patrols will continue through Thursday and also include both the U.S. and Philippine navies. They come just days after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the situation in the South China Sea increasingly “dire” as China seeks to assert its presence in an area where several countries have competing territorial claims.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own waters, which has led to disputes not only with the Philippines, but also with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. These claims have long been considered potential flashpoints in the region and have fueled the rivalry between the US and China.
Earlier this month, a Chinese coast guard ship fired on a Philippine supply ship with a water cannon in disputed waters, and last month a Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel rammed a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-operated supply boat near a disputed shoal. , Philippine officials said.
Marcos said Sunday in Honolulu that China is showing interest in atolls and shoals “closer and closer” to the coast of the Philippines, with the nearest atoll about 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) away.
“Unfortunately, I cannot report that the situation is improving,” Marcos said. “The situation has become more dire than before.”
Announcing the start of the joint patrols, Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that they were “a testament to our commitment to strengthening the interoperability of our armed forces.”
“Through joint efforts, we seek to enhance regional security and promote a seamless partnership with the United States in protecting our shared interests,” he wrote.
Under Marcos, who was elected last year, the Philippines has deepened its relationship with the US, unlike his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who was closer to China and Russia.
In February, Marcos approved an expansion of the U.S. military presence in the Philippines to add four new bases at five existing locations under a 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the old treaty allies.
The move, which Marcos said would strengthen the Philippines’ coastal defenses, joins the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen a range of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China.
Marcos has also strengthened ties with others, including Tokyo, signing an agreement earlier this year allowing Japanese troops to participate in training exercises.
