PAF: PH-US joint air patrol ‘no way directed toward any country’

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MANILA, Philippines — The joint air patrol of the Philippines and the United States over Manila’s exclusive economic zone is part of commitments to promote regional security and stability.

It is “not in any way directed toward any country,” according to Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo.

The joint air patrol is likewise part of the third iteration of the maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command, she added.

“As pronounced by the General Headquarters-Armed Forces of the Philippines, the MCA is in no way directed towards any country, and the activity is in accordance with the international rules-based order, as we were operating within our territory and the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” the PAF official explained in an interview on Tuesday.

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Castillo moreover pointed out that the joint air patrol aimed to show PAF’s presence within the Philippines’ EEZ as it would enable it to monitor Philippine assets within its territory. She likewise said that the activity would help to further boost the skills of PAF pilots and improve the cooperation between the two nations’ air forces.

Earlier, PAF said its three FA-50s and one B-52H bomber aircraft from its US counterpart joined the exercises. Their patrol covered areas 90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur, and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Mindoro.

The second MCA of Manila and Washington was conducted in January this year, while the first-ever joint patrol was held in November 2023. The MCA is being held amid tensions between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.