Palace not alarmed by US presence in disputed waters

THE Philippine government is not worried about the presence of the United States’ mighty ship in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), Malacañang said Friday, February 16.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the government respects the US Navy’s nuclear-powered Carl Vinson’s “freedom of navigation” operations in the contested waters.

“All vessels, including aircraft carriers, are entitled to freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea,” Roque told Palace reporters in a statement.

According to reports, the US Navy’s active carrier Carl Vinson is currently conducting a routine mission through the South China Sea, a resource-rich and busy waterway where China has nearly completed the installation of its military facilities in its seven artificial islands.

US Rear Admiral John Guller, commander of the Carl Vinson Stike Group, said the 333-meter-long ship’s presence was vital as China continues militarizing features in the disputed waters.

Roque said the Philippine government hopes that there would be no “untoward incident,” amid the US’ activities in the South China Sea.

“We hope there will be no untoward incident on the occasion of the visit of USS Carl Vinson in our region,” he said.

China has vast claims over South China Sea, which is believed to be potentially rich in oil and gas deposits.

Brunei, Malaysia, the

Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims in the sea.

The Philippines, a long-time ally of the US, once strongly protested Beijing’s territorial expansion in the South China Sea before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands.

On July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s sweeping maritime claims in the region.

But the Philippines has changed course since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in July 2016. Duterte has insisted that he seeks a non-adversarial approach in resolving sea disputes as he moves toward bolstering ties with China. SunStar Philippines