An American military and three defense contractors They died In a plane accident in the Philippines While carrying out activities of “intelligence, surveillance and recognition” at Manila’s request, the United States Indo-Pacific Command said Friday. “We can confirm that There are no survivors of the accident. There were four people on board, including an American military and three defense contractors, “the source said in a statement.
The accident took place yesterday, Thursday, in the province of Maguindanao del Sur, when an airplane that carried out a “routine mission to support cooperation activities” between Washington and Manila lost control for reasons still unknown. According to the Indo-Pacific command, the aircraft “was providing support for intelligence, surveillance and recognition at the request of our Filipino allies.”
The US maintains a mutual defense pact with the Philippines, and in 2023 reached an agreement by which the Asian country allows US troops to use four more military bases -some with ease of access to Taiwan and the Meridal China Sea -, which is They add to the provisions of 2014 on five other bases. This mutual defense pact would force Washington to intervene in case of a conflict between Beijing and Manila, which maintain sovereign disputes in the South China Sea.
Due to these convulsive waters, about 30% of global trade circulates, and house 12% of the world gillings, in addition to having potential oil and gas deposits.
Manila has been firm in the Defense of its territory against Beijingwhich practically claims the entire South China Sea, and the new administration of the US President, Donald Trump, has recently reaffirmed his alliance with the Philippines.
