US Navy flies new plane over disputed South China Sea

Published time: February 26, 2015 19:25

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A US NAVY P-8 Poseidon aircraft (Reuters)

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China, Navy, Planes, USA

As disputes over South China Sea islands continue, the US Navy has acknowledged flying its most advanced scout aircraft over the area, from a base in the Philippines, during the first three weeks of February.
Older P-3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft have flown from Philippine bases since 2012 under a bilateral agreement, according to Philippine Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla. This is the first time, however, that the newer P-8 Poseidon model was deployed.
Developed from the Boeing 737 civilian airliner, the P-8 entered service in November 2013. It is intended to eventually replace the P-3, in service since 1962, and is equipped with the latest sensors and electronics in the US Navy arsenal. The P-8 can even “pack a serious punch,” according to aviation analyst Tyler Rogoway.
The admission comes at a time of renewed tensions over the Spratly Islands, an archipelago of islands and reefs in the South China Sea claimed by China, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Beijing has rejected requests from Washington to halt construction on several of the islands. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Yang Yujun told reporters in January that the construction is “legitimate and conducted in accordance with law