US, Philippines conducting joint air patrols to West Philippine Sea

From Update.Ph (Apr 17): US, Philippines conducting joint air patrols to West Philippine Sea

Defense secretaries of Philippines and United States have visited US supercarrier USS John C. Stennis in West Philippine Sea. The two officials flew to the Stennis via a US V-22 Osprey from Palawan April 15.

The American defense secretary said his presence was a message to the Philippines about the strength of the US-Philippine alliance and the US commitment to the region.

 That message, Carter said, is “the United States intends to continue to play a role out here that it has for seven decades – keeping peace and stability, which has allowed the Asian miracle of prosperity and political and economic development, each according to their own wishes to happen.”

“We want to reduce tensions, but we also want everybody in the region to be able to rise and develop in their own way – including the Philippines, by the way, which happens also to be a longstanding and very staunch treaty ally of the United States,” Carter said.

Carter earlier said that some US Air Force personnel and aircraft will remain in the Philippines on a rotational basis after their participation in this year’s Balikatan exercise. This is part of of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Aircraft staying in Philippines are five A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and one MC-130H Combat Talon aircraft.

Carter said 200 airmen will continue the joint training conducted during Balikatan. They will conduct flight operations in the area, including the West Philippine Sea, and lay the foundation for joint air patrols to complement ongoing maritime patrols, he said.

Joint US-Philippines maritime patrols in West Philippine Sea started March.

http://www.update.ph/2016/04/us-philippines-conducting-joint-air-patrols-to-west-philippine-sea/4380