But where are the Philippine Air Force's FA-50s, one of which was credited for an air–to–air "kill" of the state-of-the-art F-22 Raptor at Exercise Cope Thunder in July 2023?
Two propeller-driven Super Tucano light attack planes of the PAF, ferocious-looking with their shark-teeth painted front and camo, were shadowed by two Chinese jet fighters on Sunday morning.
This was confirmed to reporters by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., as the Philippines held joint patrols with Australia in the West Philippine Sea.
The shadowing by the Chinese fighter jets of the two turboprop PAF aircraft took place at the Hubo Reef within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the WPS.
The Brazilian-made Super Tucanos, of which the PAF has six, are designed for close air support of ground troops, aerial reconnaissance in low-threat environments, and pilot training.
Brawner said the jet fighters that shadowed the A-29B Super Tucanos were positively identified to be operated by the People's Liberation Army of China.
He did not say what type of planes the Australian Defense Force flew alongside the Super Tucanos, if any, during their maritime cooperation activity or MAC, similar to the joint patrol conducted by the AFP with the United States last week.
The Australian warship HMAS Toowoomba (FFH156) participated in a maneuvering off the coast of Busuanga in Palawan, along with an MH60 Sikorsky helicopter. The BRP Davao del Sur of the Philippine Navy also joined the exercise.
Similarly, a Chinese military ship shadowed Philippine and US vessels as they sailed in the WPS during their joint patrol.
Nothing untoward
Aside from China's shadowing moves, Brawner said no untoward incidents, such as radio challenges, happened since the start of the Philippines-Australia's interoperability exercise in maritime security and domain awareness in WPS.
"We are just practicing our right to conduct patrols jointly with our allies and partners in furtherance of promoting the rules-based international order, so while doing so, while doing the joint maritime and air patrols, we are following international laws, like United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said.
Meanwhile, AFP Public Affairs chief, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, said the country's MCA with the US and Australia are not directed to any foreign countries.
"This is how partners and allies actually do their interoperability exercises, especially in our maritime domain," he said.
He added the Philippines is already expecting China's shadowing activity, especially in WPS areas, where they assert their expanded territorial claims in the South China Sea.
"We are expecting that the PLA Navy will be doing the same, like following our participants and monitoring our ships. We could call it shadowing, we are expecting that, but we are just going to confirm the reports," Trinidad said.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas that overlap with the WPS. It has been criticized by the Philippines, and other claimant states in the region for its aggressive actions against foreign vessels.
A 2016 arbitral ruling shot down China's claim in the South China Sea while affirming the Philippines' entitlements within the WPS.