As part of the first joint deployments of the year, a U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bomber and Philippine Air Force (PAF) KAI FA-50PH fighters conducted a combined patrol over the South China Sea, flying over Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, a territory disputed between China and the Philippines. The patrols took place on February 4 under the designation “Combined Air Patrol and Air Interception Training.”
Although the specific airbase or location from which the aircraft launched has not yet been disclosed, images and videos suggest the participation of three FA-50PH fighters and two B-1B bombers. Regarding the presence of U.S. Air Force bombers, they are part of a group of four aircraft from Ellsworth Air Force Base, making up the first mission of the 2025 Bomber Task Force in the Indo-Pacific. These bombers belong to the 34th Bomb Squadron (34th BS), currently stationed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
The Philippine Air Force stated that the exercises focused on enhancing operational coordination, improving air domain control, and strengthening agile combat employment capabilities between the two forces. However, the fact that aircraft from both countries flew over the Philippine Sea (the country’s designation for the region in the South China Sea), around Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, brings the ongoing sovereignty dispute between China and the Philippines back into focus. It also highlights the support that the Philippines receives from the United States.
The spokesperson for the Philippine Air Force, María Consuelo Castillo, stated that this area is part of Philippine territory, and further emphasized, “We are conducting this training based on order and protocols rooted in international rules, and we will continue regardless of the actions of other foreign actors.”
A noteworthy point is that in mid-January, U.S. bombers from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam were escorted by F-2 fighters from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and F-15K fighters from the Republic of Korea Air Force as part of joint exercises aimed at strengthening trilateral military cooperation. This flight, part of a routine activity, marked the first deployment of the year of bombers with Asian countries, sending a clear message of the strong cooperation between the forces in the region.
Some suggest that these may be the first of many activities from the Philippines aimed at deterring China and its military activities throughout the year. The year 2024 already saw numerous activities and patrols by the Philippine Armed Forces alongside allied countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, France, and Australia. Above all, U.S. Air Force flights over the South China Sea have become relatively routine, often resulting in encounters with aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
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