Philippines confirms request for US patrols in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on July 30 that US P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft had been patrolling the South China Sea to help Manila monitor activities in the region.

Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesman Raul Hernandez told the Philippine Star that US aircraft flew over Philippine waters during the joint exercise.

Hernandez said the exercises involved P-3C Orion aircraft and were aimed at honing the skills of the Philippine military.

"We need to utilize every available resource to understand what is happening in our waters," Hernandez said.

On July 28, Kyodo News (Japan) cited a confidential document from the Philippine government confirming that US reconnaissance aircraft had patrolled the South China Sea, particularly in the area of ​​Vietnam's Spratly Islands.

Previously, the Philippine president revealed that Manila had been lobbying the US to deploy P-3C Orion aircraft in disputed waters.

The reconnaissance flights focused on the Second Thomas Shoal area in Vietnam's Spratly Islands, a recent flashpoint in the South China Sea.

Since February, the Philippine military has reported that China has dispatched escort vessels and coast guard ships to the area around Second Thomas Shoal to maintain a presence, causing alarm in Manila.

The Philippine military is closely monitoring all movements of Chinese ships at Second Thomas Shoal because it is close to Mischief Reef, an area occupied by China since 1995.

The U.S. embassy in Manila declined to comment on reports revealing that a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft were patrolling the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Philippine Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile commented that the US has the right to deploy reconnaissance aircraft in the South China Sea.

According to VOV - DT