The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) closely monitored a joint air patrol conducted by the Philippines and the US in the South China Sea, describing the event as a political demonstration aimed at China with minimal military significance, according to the PLA Southern Theater Command.
In response to the Philippines’ joint air patrol announcement involving three FA-50 light fighter jets and a US Air Force B-52H heavy bomber, the PLA Southern Theater Command stated that the situation was under complete control, and frontline naval and air forces were organized to monitor the activities closely. The command emphasized its commitment to defending national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights while safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Chinese military aviation expert Fu Qianshao assessed the joint air patrol as having little military importance but serving as a political gesture. Fu noted that the US B-52 bomber lacked maneuverability and self-defense capability, requiring escorts by fighter jets, while the Philippines’ FA-50s had limited range, operating close to the Philippine coast to showcase the two countries’ cooperation.
Fu suggested that the US sending the B-52 to the South China Sea aimed to deter China and escalate tensions over the islands and reefs, taking advantage of the Philippines’ weaker armed forces. While monitoring such joint patrols, Fu asserted that China would respond with countermeasures if core interests, particularly in the South China Sea, were provoked.
Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert, highlighted the harmful impact of the Philippines and the US turning maritime cooperative activities into a mechanism. By bypassing regional multilateral security mechanisms and marginalizing the negotiation progress of the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, these activities contribute to military adventurism, creating a significant hidden danger. Zhuo commended the PLA’s consistent response, demonstrating
its capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea whenever such joint patrols occur.