Huanqiu Times reported that from November 14 to 15, the Philippine military, together with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, carried out another Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea. This was the eighth MMCA exercise held this year and the thirteenth since the program began.
In response, on November 14, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command dispatched a formation of bombers for a routine patrol over the South China Sea – marking the first publicly disclosed deployment of this kind.
Experts interviewed by Global Times said the move underscores China’s strong resolve and capability to safeguard its territorial sovereignty. Bombers, compared with fighter jets, possess more powerful strike capabilities, including saturation attacks that even large surface vessels would struggle to evade.
Analysts believe the formation likely included variants of the H-6 bomber. These aircraft may have flown tactical routes to warn foreign vessels and reinforce China’s red lines, potentially with fighter escorts. The mission aligns with China’s broader strategy of diversifying its strike options and integrating bomber units with aircraft carrier groups to enhance long-range strike capability and increase the flexibility of China’s power projection.
Source: Huanqiu Times, November 16, 2025
https://mil.huanqiu.com/article/4PAF86Mj7GF