But the U.S. has waded into the fray, making several naval and airborne incursions in Chinese territorial waters and airspace in recent years while criticising Beijing for land reclamation work and airfield building.
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China claims most of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, through which about $US5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The government in Manila initiated proceedings after China seized control of Scarborough Shoal in the Spratly islands in 2012.
On Friday’s visit, Carter was accompanied by Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.The Chinese Foreign Ministry spelled out China’s stance after the Pentagon said that the U.S.-Philippines joint patrols in the SCS “will occur regularly”.
In addition to the joint US-Philippines patrols announced on Thursday, hundreds of US troops and some aircraft will stay behind in the Philippines on a temporary rotation.
Beijing had earlier denounced plans announced in Manila on Thursday to deepen US-Philippine military ties, including joint patrols in the South China Sea, saying they reflected a “Cold War mentality”.
“The Chinese military will pay close attention to the situation, and resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests”, the statement said.
While the United States insists its growing support for allies in the Asia Pacific is not aimed at any one nation, officials have openly expressed concerns at Beijing’s actions in the region.
Speaking at a different occasion at a closing ceremony after a joint military exercise, Carter promised Washington “will continue to stand up for our safety and freedoms” and those of its allies.
“The message is pretty clear: China is giving a tit-for-tat to the USA, showing it’s not caving in and won’t cave in on the matter”, said Ni Lexiong, director of the Sea Power and Defense Policy Research Institute at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. “We want to continue upholding stability and security in the region”.
Below deck on the John C. Stennis, he said China should not see the carrier’s presence as a provocation.
Quezon said critics should understand that the Philippines has to balance its need to improve its defense requirements with its limited resources that are also needed for other public services.
United States forces will initially have access to five Philippine military bases, including two close to the hotspot areas of the South China Sea.
“The two countries have been helping each other, long before disputes on maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea came to the surface”, said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., during a press briefing in Malacañang.
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The Chinese Defense Ministry’s statement made no reference to military facilities on the “relevant islets and reefs” Fan visited. He added that United States troops will have combat aircraft and helicopters at their disposal. Previously, the fleets have also conducted all-weather drills, beyond visibility range training and low-altitude, high-speed exercises to hammer their pilots into shape, the article said. “These are peaceful and highly uncontroversial exercises meant to ensure that prosperity is continuous under a regime of stability through the participation of all countries”, he added.
