U.S. land-based reconnaissance aircraft conducted 72 sorties over the South China Sea in February, marking a 30% drop from the 102 conducted in both January and December, The South China Morning Post reported March 3.

While an official reason for the decline has not been made public, it comes amid the United States' largest air and naval deployment to the Middle East in decades. The redeployment of assets and subsequent direct hostilities with Iran may thus partially explain the drop in U.S. reconnaissance flights over the South China Sea, which also occurred during the brief U.S.-Iran conflict in June 2025. The reduction also comes ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled for April 18. Finally, increased surveillance contributions from regional allies like Japan, Australia and New Zealand, in light of security pacts recently signed with the Philippines, may be reducing the need for U.S. aircraft as well.