China has deployed two long-range H-6 bombers near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, just days before U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Philippines. This move, confirmed through satellite images, is seen as a direct message from Beijing to both Washington and Manila. The deployment comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, especially over territorial disputes and increasing military activity.
The aircraft spotted near the shoal were identified as H-6 bombers, a jet-powered platform designed for long-range missions. The H-6 was originally based on the Soviet-era Tu-16 bomber, which first flew in the 1950s. However, the aircraft has been heavily modernized. The latest versions, such as the H-6K, feature advanced avionics, improved engines, and are capable of carrying a wide range of weapons, including land-attack cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and even nuclear payloads.
According to Maxar Technologies, which captured the images on March 24, 2025, the bombers were spotted east of Scarborough Shoal. The area, known to Filipinos as Bajo de Masinloc, lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. “The aircraft in the images were H-6 bombers,” Maxar said in a statement to Reuters. The images also showed colored streaks around the bombers, which Maxar explained were caused by the satellites processing fast-moving objects.
Scarborough Shoal has long been a flashpoint in the South China Sea. China seized control of the atoll in 2012, and since then, Philippine fishermen and patrol vessels have frequently clashed with Chinese coast guard ships in the area. Although an international tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claims had no legal basis, Beijing has rejected that ruling and continued to fortify its presence in the region.
Timing Suggests a Strategic Message
While China did not publicly announce the deployment of the bombers, experts say the timing was no coincidence. The flights took place just days before U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Manila to strengthen military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines.
Regional security analysts believe the bomber flights were meant to send a message. “The bombers’ second message could be: you (the United States) have the potential for long-range strike; so do we, and in larger numbers,” one analyst told Reuters. “Clearly not serendipity.”
China’s military has been gradually increasing its use of H-6 bombers in the South China Sea. According to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, China’s Southern Theatre Command, which covers this region, operates two regiments of H-6 bombers. Since 2018, these aircraft have landed on airstrips built on disputed islands, including the Paracel Islands. In recent months, the bombers have participated in drills near Taiwan and Scarborough Shoal.
U.S. Responds with Strong Commitment and Military Support
During his visit to Manila, Secretary Hegseth emphasized America’s commitment to defending the Philippines. He stated, “President Trump seeks peace … but in order to bring that peace, we will be strong.” Standing alongside Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Hegseth said the two countries must stand “shoulder to shoulder” in the face of increasing threats from China.
The United States also announced plans to send advanced military capabilities to the Philippines, including the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and unmanned surface vessels. These systems are designed to counter ships and provide greater control over the surrounding waters. According to Hegseth, the deployment of these tools, along with upcoming joint exercises like Balikatan, will help strengthen the Philippines’ ability to deter Chinese aggression.
The Pentagon is also expanding its air power in the region. Reports indicate that five to seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have been deployed to Diego Garcia, a U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean. The B-2, known for its radar-evading design and deep-strike capabilities, is capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional weapons. Its presence signals that the U.S. is ready to respond not only in the Indo-Pacific but also in other regions, such as the Middle East, where tensions with Iran-backed militias continue.
Philippine Analysts See the Move as a Sign of Chinese Frustration
In the Philippines, experts believe the bomber deployment is a response to the country’s growing military cooperation with the United States. Geopolitical analyst Don McLain Gill told ABS-CBN News that the move was expected. “It is frustrated with the fact that the Philippines is stepping up in ensuring that it has the capacity to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he said. “Definitely, being an expansionist power, China will not take this happily.”
Professor Renato de Castro, an international relations expert, echoed this view. Speaking at a news forum, he said, “The Chinese are expected to react, they have to cater to their population. Ipapakita nila na tine-threaten tayo so we have to do certain actions, like sending two bombers sa Panatag Shoal and expect a live fire exercise.” He added that China wants to appear strong to its domestic audience and demonstrate that it will not be intimidated.
Although the Armed Forces of the Philippines has not officially confirmed the presence of the bombers, the government continues to move forward with deeper defense partnerships. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the joint training and testing of new U.S. systems on Philippine soil, including on the northernmost islands near Taiwan, such as Batanes.
China has not directly commented on the new bomber deployment, but in past statements, it has defended its actions in the South China Sea as necessary for protecting national sovereignty. During previous military exercises in the region, China’s Ministry of Defense stated that the drills were intended to “resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security, and maintain peace in the South China Sea.”
China insists that there is no problem with freedom of navigation in the area and continues to justify its presence through historical claims outlined in the so-called “nine-dash line,” which covers most of the South China Sea. However, this claim has been rejected by the international community, including the Hague tribunal ruling in 2016.
The bomber deployment near Scarborough Shoal is part of a much larger competition between the United States and China for influence in the Indo-Pacific. As both countries expand their military presence, other regional nations are taking notice. Japan and Australia have increased their coordination with the United States, while Vietnam and Malaysia continue to express concern over China’s growing assertiveness.
Beyond Asia, the situation is also affecting global military planning. The United States is currently involved in operations in the Middle East, targeting Houthi militias backed by Iran. The recent deployment of B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia shows that Washington is preparing for multiple scenarios, reinforcing its readiness to project power in both the Pacific and the Middle East.
As former Indian fighter pilot MJ Augustine Vinod noted, “What’s significant here is that the US didn’t just park F-15s or carrier strike groups—it flew in the B-2s. These are not routine deployments.” He added, “Each B-2 carries nuclear and conventional precision munitions. The optics of this move are crystal clear: deterrence through capability, not words.”
The remote location of Diego Garcia allows the United States to operate with greater secrecy and flexibility. The island base gives Washington the ability to launch air operations without depending on support from nearby allies, adding another layer of unpredictability for adversaries like China.
The South China Sea remains one of the most contested and strategically important regions in the world. It is home to vital shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds, and untapped energy reserves. With overlapping claims from China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and others, the risk of conflict is always present.
ACZ Editor: We believe, that this is not just a simple response, but also an attempt to normalize heavier and heavier military presence in the region. The vist by Hegseth is a just the excuse, and in forgiving this because of the excuse we allow the new normal.