US patrol flights over South China Sea drop 30% as focus shifts to Middle East

SCMP · 2026-03-03
US patrol flights over South China Sea drop 30% as focus shifts to Middle East

US land-based reconnaissance aircraft sorties over the South China Sea decreased by around 30 per cent month on month in February, according to a Beijing-based think tank, as the US deploys assets to the Middle East. The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said on Monday t