The US and Philippine air forces have held joint patrol exercises over the South China Sea.
The one-day drill on Tuesday follows ramped up security measures amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing over a territorial dispute.
A Philippine air force spokesperson says two US B-1 bombers took part in the exercises. They included a flight over Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea which is under Beijing’s control.
Manila says Chinese Coast Guard vessels have repeatedly entered the country’s exclusive economic zone. The deployments have sometimes involved one of its largest vessels, which the Philippines has dubbed the “monster”.
