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

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Alcott WeiMarch 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM
US patrol flights over South China Sea drop 30% as focus shifts to Middle East

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US reconnaissance flights over the South China Sea decreased by approximately 30% in February, according to the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI). The think tank reported 72 sorties in February, down from 102 in both January and December. This reduction coincides with the US redeploying military assets to the Middle East in February, preceding its attack on Iran. The shift in focus comes as US-China relations are at a critical point, with preparations underway for a potential summit between President Trump and Chinese leaders in late March or early April. Both countries are reportedly working to create a positive environment for discussions.

Keywords

south china sea 100% us patrol flights 90% middle east 80% reconnaissance aircraft 70% us-china relations 60% military assets 50% us-israeli strikes 40% trump visit 40%

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South China Morning Post
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Center-Right (0.50)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
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90%
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United States

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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