The Philippine military will continue its aerial patrols of the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal near the South China Sea despite protests from Beijing over the flights, especially using Japanese-donated aircraft, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday. Asked if the Philippine military will stop such surveillance following the protests, Lorenzana said the flights will continue because the area is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, giving the country internationally recognized sovereign rights. A Philippine official said China has raised concerns over the patrols, including one that used a Japanese-donated TC-90 plane, when Chinese and Philippine officials met to discuss their territorial disputes in Manila last month.

Punongbayan, M. (2018, March 27). Phl to patrol Panatag Shoal despite China protest. The Philippine Star, p. 2.