UNITED States and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a joint patrol and training Tuesday over a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese fighter jets fired flares last year to drive away a Philippine aircraft, Philippine officials said.
"US Pacific Air Force or Pacaf will conduct a bilateral bomber air patrol, air intercept training, and photo exercise over the West Philippine Sea," Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesman Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a press briefing.