US Flies A-10s and Helicopters Over Territory Contested By China
Here is the latest on the South China Sea front where the US is expanding efforts to demonstrate to China the US commitment to freedom of navigation:
Filipino fishermen say they’ve seen more Chinese coast guard ships than usual around the contested Scarborough Shoal, which China effectively took over in 2013 after a tense standoff with Philippine vessels.
Although fishermen have been complaining they’re being driven away by Chinese ships, the Philippine Department of Defense said it could not confirm an increase in Chinese presence at the shoal, 145 miles (230 kilometers) from Luzon island.
Meantime, the U.S. Air Force flew its first mission over the Scarborough area as part of a new Air Contingent force stationed in the Philippines. It involved four A-10C Thunderbolt jets and two Sikorsky HH-60 helicopters.
The mission: establishing air and maritime “domain awareness” and “assuring all nations have access to air and sea domains throughout the region in accordance with international law,” according to a U.S. military statement.
Free navigation “is extremely important, international economics depends on it — free trade depends on our ability to move goods,” said Col. Larry Card, commander of the Air Contingent, part of stepped-up U.S. assistance to its Philippine ally. [Associated Press]
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