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.
