By Jeoffrey Maitem
The United States has deployed its most advanced fighter aircraft, the F-35, to the Philippines for the first time, a move analysts say signals Washington鈥檚 intent to stress-test forward combat readiness in a region increasingly shaped by China鈥檚 maritime assertiveness.
The arrival of the stealth jets for the Cope Thunder joint air drills 鈥 launched on Monday at Clark Air Base and running until July 18 鈥 reflects a more tangible form of deterrence, experts say, as the Philippines becomes further…