us defence secretary carter to visit warship in south china sea
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

US Defence Secretary Carter to visit warship in South China Sea

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice US Defence Secretary Carter to visit warship in South China Sea

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter (L)
Manila - Arab Today

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said he would visit a warship close to flashpoint waters of the South China Sea on Friday, as Beijing reacted defiantly to an American military build-up in the area.

"Later today, I will visit the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, sailing in the South China Sea, after some of its sailors and Marines participated with you in Balikatan," Carter said in Manila, referring to annual war games with the Philippines that ended Friday.

Carter's trip to the warship is the latest move by the United States to show it is committed to maintaining security in the hotly contested waters, where China has built artificial islands on islets and reefs close to the Philippines.
China claims nearly all of the strategically vital sea, even waters close to its Southeast Asian neighbours, and has in recent years built the islands in an effort to assert what it insists are its sovereign rights.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims to parts of the sea, which is home to some of the world's most important shipping lanes and is believed to sit atop vast oil reserves.

China has constructed the islands on reefs in the Spratlys archipelago, which are close to the Philippines and Malaysia, as well as airstrips capable of accommodating military aircraft.

China in 2012 also took control of a rich fishing shoal just 220 kilometres (135 miles) from the main Filipino landmass. The shoal is 650 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass.

Carter announced on Thursday that the US had launched joint naval patrols with the Philippines in the South China Sea, as he spoke of growing concern about China's "land reclamation" and "militarisation" of the region.

He also said the US would deploy hundreds of troops, as well as five warplanes, to the Philippines.

- Chinese warning -

China reacted defiantly to the announcement, with its defence ministry warning the military would protect the nation's territory.
US-Philippine joint patrols in the South China Sea promote regional militarisation and undermine regional peace and stability," said a Chinese defence ministry statement released late Thursday.

"The Chinese military will pay very close attention to related developments, and firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".

On Friday, Carter emphasised the US would back up the Philippines and other allies in the region.

"At a time of change in this dynamic region, and democratic transitions in the Philippines and the United States, we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder," Carter said at the closing ceremony for the war games, which involved about 9,000 soldiers.

"We will continue to stand up for our safety and freedoms, for those of our friends and allies, and for the values, principles, and rules-based order that has benefited so many for so long."

Carter also highlighted the presence of soldiers from Australia and Japan for the Balikatan war games this year, emphasising that the two key regional players had also expressed concerns over China's expansion in the South China Sea.
"I am pleased to see so many nations interested in working together to promote stability and security in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

Philippine and American officials would not disclose exactly where the Stennis was sailing on Friday.

However Carter was due to make only a short flight to the carrier from a military base on the southwestern Philippine island of Palawan, which is the closest landmass to the Spratlys.

A US official travelling with Carter told AFP the Stennis was in Philippine-claimed waters.

The 275 American troops and nine aircraft that Carter said would stay in the Philippines following the Balikatan war games are the first major deployments under a bilateral defence pact finalised in January.

The pact allows US forces to rotate soldiers and military hardware through the Philippines, an important part of American efforts to expand its military presence throughout the Asia-Pacific.

US forces will initially have access to five Filipino military bases, including two close to the hotspot areas of the South China Sea.

Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday said he hoped the US efforts would "deter uncalled-for action by the Chinese".
Source: AFP

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

us defence secretary carter to visit warship in south china sea us defence secretary carter to visit warship in south china sea

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

us defence secretary carter to visit warship in south china sea us defence secretary carter to visit warship in south china sea

 



GMT 11:03 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

No end to eyesores at Taj Mahal

GMT 10:18 2018 Thursday ,30 August

Iran incapable of closing Hormuz, Bab Al Mandeb

GMT 05:04 2024 Tuesday ,06 February

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 10:08 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Microsoft to open 4 data centres

GMT 05:17 2024 Wednesday ,07 February

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 19:57 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Farm-fresh from Kerala to the UAE, in just one day

GMT 12:10 2016 Monday ,30 May

French Open braced for washout

GMT 22:24 2018 Monday ,08 January

Police arrest Israeli organ smuggling 'mastermind'

GMT 08:05 2017 Monday ,16 October

Cabinet Affairs Minister receives Iraqi ambassador

GMT 23:05 2017 Thursday ,25 May

Sharjah body calls for intensified

GMT 10:52 2015 Wednesday ,25 March

Sheikha Manal to host Art Exhibition

GMT 00:36 2017 Sunday ,19 March

World’s fastest free Wi-Fi at Dubai Airports

GMT 04:15 2011 Tuesday ,15 November

McGowan in Dolce&Gabbana dress
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice