Manila, Philippines - President Aquino may soon ask the United States to deploy spy planes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) to help monitor the disputed waters, a move that could reignite tensions with its giant neighbor China.
The President ordered the pullout last month of a lightly armed Coast Guard ship and a fisheries boat due to bad weather around a group of rock formations about 140 miles (225 km) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon, ending a two-month standoff between the two sides.
But there were reports that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will go back to the disputed area to secure Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and will be assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Full story
