Report says U.S. military reconnaissance activities in the South China Sea in 2025 numbered about 1,200 sorties
U.S. military South China Sea activity report: about 1,200 reconnaissance aircraft sorties in 2025, with increasing frequency Focusing on the Fujian aircraft carrier's movements, carrier and bomber training exercises, and keeping track of the latest South China Sea situation
The South China Sea Strategic Situation Awareness Plan released an incomplete report on June 25 regarding U.S. military activities in the South China Sea in 2025. The report says that in 2025, U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft carried out a total of about 1,200 sorties in the South China Sea region, an increase from 2024.
The report points out that last year, the U.S. military continuously conducted highintensity reconnaissance, patrol, exercises, and forward deployment activities in and around the South China Sea, including closerange aerial reconnaissance by large reconnaissance aircraft, activities by ocean surveillance and survey vessels, the entry of carrier strike groups into the South China Sea, and bomber drills in the relevant waters.
The report also mentioned that as the Fujian entered the South China Sea for training after departing Sanya Port for the first time in November 2025, the frequency of U.S. military reconnaissance of related developments increased significantly. At the same time, the U.S. military's reliance on bases in the Philippines has also been increasing, with more reconnaissance operations being pushed forward from Philippine forward bases into the South China Sea.
In addition, the report says that in 2025, U.S. warships transited the Taiwan Strait three times, but the U.S. side did not proactively issue official statements regarding these three operations.