China says US-Philippines joint patrols promote regional militarisation
China says US-Philippines joint patrols promote regional militarisation
US defence secretary Ashton Carter visited 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.
Mr Carter’s trip to the USS John C. Stennis was the latest effort by the United States to show its commitment to maintaining security in the hotly contested waters, where China has rattled nerves by building artificial islands on islets and reefs claimed by some of its Southeast Asian neighbours.
“It is a message to the region that the US intends to continue to play a role in keeping peace and stability in this region,” Mr Carter told reporters aboard the warship, a nuclear-powered carrier that can carry about 75 planes and helicopters.
Before flying from Manila to visit the ship, Mr Carter emphasised the United States would support the Philippines and other allies as they faced “coercion and intimidation”.
“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,” Mr Carter said at a closing ceremony for annual US-Philippine war games.
The roughly two-hour visit to the Stennis came after Mr Carter announced on Thursday that the United States had launched joint naval patrols with the Philippines in the sea, as he spoke of growing concern about China’s “land reclamation” and “militarisation” of the region.
He also said the United States would deploy hundreds of troops, as well as warplanes, to the Philippines.
Mr Carter visited the Stennis after making a short flight to the carrier from a military base on the south-western Philippine island of Palawan, which is the closest landmass to the Spratlys.
Rear Admiral Ron Boxall, commander of the carrier group with responsibility for the Stennis, said one or two Chinese vessels had been following the carrier but there had been no tensions.
“They have been operating very professionally,” Admiral Boxall said.
In Beijing, China reacted defiantly to Thursday’s announcement of the joint patrols and US deployments to the Philippines, 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”.
Meanwhile, the Chinese defence ministry said in another statement that Fan Changlong, the country’s second-ranking general, led a group of military commanders to the Spratly island group to visit troops and observe construction work.
