MANILA: The United States and the Philippines held a joint patrol and training exercise over Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a region both countries claim. Last year, Chinese fighter jets fired flares in the same area to push away a Philippine aircraft.

Scarborough Shoal, also called Bajo de Masinloc or Huangyan Island, is within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but China says it belongs to its historical territory. This atoll, the biggest in the South China Sea, often sees Chinese naval activities, increasing tensions with the Philippines.

In this recent patrol, two US Air Force B-1 bombers and three Philippine FA-50 fighter jets took part. They practiced intercepting enemy aircraft, said Philippine Air Force spokesperson Maria Consuelo Castillo. It is still unclear if Chinese forces responded during the exercise.

The goal of the drills was to improve teamwork between the two air forces, increase awareness of airspace activities, and strengthen quick-response combat skills. Tensions rose last August when two Chinese planes flew very close to a Philippine patrol aircraft and fired flares. No one was hurt, but China claimed the Philippine plane had entered its airspace illegally and disrupted Chinese military training.

Scarborough Shoal is not the only disputed area. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. But conflicts between Chinese and Philippine forces have grown more intense around Scarborough Shoal and the Second Thomas Shoal in the last two years.

This patrol is the first military exercise since US President Donald Trump returned to office. It is still unclear how China will react. The US has repeatedly stated that it is obligated by treaty to defend the Philippines, its oldest ally in Asia, if Philippine forces are attacked, even in the South China Sea.

The US military has often reported unsafe moves by Chinese aircraft in these disputed waters, where American forces continue to operate to protect freedom of navigation and overflight.

This move is now a big concern, as Donald Trump's 'America First' policy has raised concerns among Asian allies about the United States' commitment to the region.