US aircraft joins Asian allies in rare South China Sea patrol mission
Three-nation military forces conducted joint operations near Philippine waters this week. The patrol mission followed recent criticism of Chinese coast guard actions in disputed maritime zones
A multi-national sea-and-air patrol took place in south-east Asian waters today showing increased co-operation between long-time allies. The United States sent a high-tech spy plane while Japan and the Philippines deployed their naval vessels to patrol disputed areas
The joint operation happened in Philippine-controlled waters just a couple days after these countries spoke against Chinese coast guard behavior in the region. Their ships moved through areas that have been a hot-spot for maritime disagreements lately
The US Indo-Pacific Command explained the missionʼs goals: to keep sea lanes open and support international law in the region. The three-nation group focused on checking air-and-sea movement rights in contested zones (which many countries claim as their own); making sure ships can move freely through these busy water-ways
