China said on Saturday that it flew a fleet of bombers, fighters, and other aircraft over contested areas in the South China Sea in a show of force over a region that has flared tensions internationally. The aircraft, including H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighters, patrolled the airspace over the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese claims over the land clash with claims by the Philippines, according to the Wall Street Journal. The flight came as former Philippine President Fidel Ramos prepares to visit Beijing to discuss the dispute, the Journal reported. China flew patrols over the sea last month in defiance of the Hague’s July 12 ruling that China does not have claims to sovereignty over much of the sea.
Among the 14 general officers dismissed or retiring early since President Trump took office in January, two appear likely to have long-term institutional impact for the Air Force: the departures of Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife in February and the pending retirement of Chief of Staff Gen. David…
