"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
The patrols involve three navy ships and three fighter-jets from the Philippine military, which were to be joined by one littoral combat ship and one aircraft from the #American side.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Air Force’s #FA50 light combat aircraft flew in tandem with the US Air Force’s #F15C fighter jets and C-130 from #Batanes to the #WestPhilippineSea to test joint flight doctrines and further enhance interoperability, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. #Philippines#US#SouthChinaSea
A total of 126 reservists – all of whom are #Ivatan or local residents of #Batanes – would attend the graduation ceremony in #Basco town on Saturday, March 9, according to the Naval Forces Northern Luzon which is under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Northern Luzon Command.