U.S. Pacific Air Forces launches first flying mission near disputed reef

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-25
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Last month, the U.S. and the Philippines began conducting joint naval patrols in the South China Sea. The two nations signed a 10-year military agreement in January known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the U.S. to build military facilities and give the nation wide access to Philippines military bases.

United States Pacific Command on Friday issued a statement saying that the Air Contingent had completed a flying mission from its Clark Air Base in the Philippines, involving four A-10C Thunderbolt II and two HH-60G Pave Hawks aircraft, on April 19 near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

Amid growing tensions between China and the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island in China, the statement stressed that the mission was conducted through international airspace in the vicinity of the disputed reef and was in accordance with international law.

Last month, the U.S. and the Philippines began conducting joint naval patrols in the South China Sea. The two nations have signed a 10-year military agreement in January known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the U.S. to build military facilities in the Philippines and access the Asian country’s military bases.     [FULL  STORY]