The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejected China’s criticism and said it will press on with patrols and military exercises in the West Philippine Sea.
The statement came after China announced it had conducted naval and air patrols in the South China Sea from February 2 to 6 and accused the Philippines of destabilizing the region by engaging in joint security activities with other countries.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said Philippine forces operate strictly within the country’s exclusive economic zone and in accordance with international law.
“Our exercises in BdM or Bajo de Masinloc are scheduled, duly coordinated, and pre-approved. Our forces carry these out within our EEZ, in partnership with our treaty ally and other like-minded nations,” Trinidad said in a message on Sunday.
He said China has carried out similar actions against other Southeast Asian maritime states and described Beijing’s patrols and exercises over Bajo de Masinloc as unlawful and without legal basis.
China’s China Southern Theater Command accused the Philippines of “stirring up troubles” through what it called “bilateral air patrols,” adding that Chinese forces remain on high alert to defend territory Beijing claims.
While China issued its warnings, the Philippine Air Force and the US Pacific Air Forces carried out a Bilateral Bomber Air Patrol and Live Drop Exercise across multiple areas, including the West Philippine Sea and the Luzon Strait.
The activities involved coordinated air operations supported by the Special Operations Command Pacific and US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and aimed to strengthen interoperability and operational coordination between Philippine and US forces.
On Monday, the allied forces conducted a live drop exercise at Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac City using PAF FA-50PH fighter jets and US B-52 bombers.
On Wednesday, they followed this with an air defense scenario over the West Philippine Sea that focused on airspace coordination, command-and-control integration, and joint operational response.
The exercises concluded on Friday with a joint bomber air patrol over the West Philippine Sea and the Luzon Strait, highlighting coordinated planning and operational readiness.
“These activities enhanced bilateral interoperability, operational readiness, and strategic cooperation through joint planning, coordination, and execution in a realistic training environment,” the Philippine Air Force said.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.