American military aircraft have flown over the disputed waters of South China Sea nearly every day this year to monitor Chinese activities in the region from five air bases in the Philippines, Japan’s Yomiuri Shinbun reported on Oct. 27.

Between 300 and 400 reconnaissance sorties have been carried out by patrol planes like the Boeing P-8A Poseidon and Lockheed Martin P-3, while there have been between 10 and 20 American warships passing around China’s artificial islands to uphold freedom of navigation in the contended region.

More aircraft of the US Air Force and Navy including RC-135 and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, E-3C early warning aircraft, C-130 cargo planes and F/A-18 fighters as well as MQ-1/RQ-1 drones are likely to join the flights in the future to challenge China’s maritime expansion.

Read more: http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20151029000075&cid=1101