US and Philippines Stage Air Power Drills Amid China Tensions

The U.S. and the Philippines on Tuesday showcased their air power over the Western Pacific Ocean amid persistent tensions with China.

The countries, which have a mutual defense treaty, each provided jets for a training mission over the Philippine Sea, east of the Southeast Asian country, the U.S. Air Force said.

The drill increased proficiency and readiness to ensure the Indo-Pacific region remained free and open, the U.S. Air Force added, while demonstrating the interoperability of the alliance’s air forces.

Newsweek has reached out to the Philippine military for comment.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on November 18 that any defense and security cooperation between Manila and Washington should not target or harm the interests of any third party.

Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment.

There are growing tensions in the contested South China Sea, which is located to the west of the Philippines. China‘s maritime claims conflict with those of the Philippines, and the disputes have led to clashes and political tensions.

Manila, which is the oldest treaty ally of Washington in Asia, has voiced its intention to purchase a ground-based, mid-range missile system from the United States. The system can fire the Standard Missile 6, an anti-air munition that has a range of 290 miles.

The Chinese military has 2,400 combat aircraft, making it the largest aviation force in the Indo-Pacific region. China has been artificially increasing the size of South China Sea islands under its control, including land reclamation and building outposts with runways.

The Philippines is also part of the first island chain, which extends southward from Japan via Taiwan. It is one of the layers of a U.S. defense concept in the Western Pacific Ocean that uses allied or friendly territories to constrain China’s naval and air activity in wartime.

According to photos released by the U.S. Air Force on…