MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military deployed a Japanese-donated patrol plane Wednesday to a disputed shoal guarded by China in the South China Sea, and the aircraft did not encounter any Chinese resistance, officials said. The military’s Northern Luzon Command said the Beechcraft King Air C90 flew low at 800 feet (240 metres) around Scarborough Shoal on its first mission for the Philippine navy. It said it spotted nine Chinese vessels, including four Chinese coast guard ships, and four Philippine fishing boats. Earlier this month, a U.S. guided missile destroyer sailed near Scarborough Shoal to assert freedom of navigation, sparking protests from China. Two of the aircraft were delivered to the Philippines in March last year and the rest are expected to be delivered this year.

Source: National Post January 31, 2018 08:29 UTC