The Philippines‘ defence secretary on Saturday visited a US aircraft carrier patrolling the South China Sea, hailing the „strong relationship“ with Washington despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot away from Manila’s traditional ally. The US Navy said the USS Carl Vinson had
Manila (Philippines) (AFP) – The Philippines‘ defence secretary on Saturday visited a US aircraft carrier patrolling the South China Sea, hailing the „strong relationship“ with Washington despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot away from Manila’s traditional ally.
The US Navy said the USS Carl Vinson had been engaging in „routine operations in the South China Sea“ since last month to assert freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway claimed by Beijing, Manila and a host of other Southeast Asian nations.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he and other top officials in Duterte’s administration had a „very interesting and informative“ visit to the aircraft carrier.
