U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Thursday an enhanced military alliance between the U.S. and Philippines and expressed concerns over China’s activities in the South China Sea.
Carter is visiting the Philippines where American and Filipino troops are holding annual joint military drills.
Speaking at a news conference with Philippines Defense Minister Voltaire Gazmin, Carter said the two countries have been conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea and will increase them going forward to ensure security for the region’s waters.
Carter also said U.S. aircraft will remain behind at Clark Air Base after the drills, and 200 airmen will continue joint training, conduct flight operations and lay the foundation for joint air patrols, to complement ongoing maritime patrols.
Carter added U.S. and Philippines have agreed to upgrade infrastructure at five locations in the Philippines. The U.S. has already released the first batch of money — $42 million — to support this program.
“This is a time of change in the region,” Carter said. “We want to continue upholding stability and security in the region.”
The Philippines and a number of other countries in South East Asia have territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea. China claims the whole of the South China Sea as its territory. China also has a territorial dispute with Japan over a set of islands in the East China Sea — referred to by China as Diaoyu but called Senkaku by Japan.
“There’s no question that there’s concern in the region about China’s behavior,” Carter said. “The U.S. values peaceful resolving of disputes. The U.S. values freedom of navigation. Countries that don’t stand for those things will be isolated. That is self-isolation, not isolation by us.”
He added: “With respect to Chinese claims in the South China Sea and to all other parties, the American position is very clear, that these things should be settled peacefully and lawfully. We don’t take sides in them per se. We are on the side of peaceful resolution.”
Philippines Defense Minister Gazmin added the U.S. presence “will deter uncalled for actions by the Chinese.”