Recently, China and the Philippines had a "reaction" to each other regarding Manila's patrol activities in the East Sea.
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| The Philippine Air Force and the US Indo-Pacific Command participate in a joint maritime cooperation operation in the South China Sea in November 2023. (Source: Reuters) |
On February 20, Reuters reported that the Chinese military accused the Philippines of “causing trouble” in the East Sea through air patrols with “outside countries” and then publicly hyped the issue.
China's Southern Theater Command said it deployed frontline naval and air forces to closely monitor the Philippines' joint air patrol on February 19.
According to the ministry, Chinese forces “maintain high vigilance and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty.”
Philippine fighter jets and US bombers patrolled together in the South China Sea on February 19, more than a week after the two countries' navies held joint naval exercises amid tensions over territorial claims in the region.
Responding to Beijing's accusations, on the same day, the head of the Philippine military's public affairs office, Xerxes Trinidad, said that the joint air patrol between the Philippines and the US was aimed at protecting the territory and national interests in the East Sea.
“This exercise is intended to enhance the interoperability of our armed forces and enhance the capabilities of our air force in the performance of its missions,” Trinidad said.
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