Philstar Global
Date: April 15, 2016
By: Associated Press
BEIJING — China will “resolutely defend” its interests in the face of stepped-up
This photo provided by the Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense shows an aerial view of Taiwan’s Taiping island, also known as Itu Aba, in the Spratly archipelago, roughly 1600 kms. (1000 miles) south of Taiwan, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Taiwan flew international media to the 46 hectares (110 acres) Taiping Island, its largest island holding in the South China Sea, on Wednesday in a bid to reinforce its territorial claims in the disputed and increasingly tense region. (Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense via AP)
U.S.-Philippine military cooperation, the Defense Ministry said, accusing the two allies of militarizing the region and harboring a “Cold War mentality.”
The ministry’s comments came shortly after the announcement Thursday that the U.S. would send troops and planes to the Philippines for more frequent rotations and will increase joint sea and air patrols with Philippine forces in the South China Sea.
In a move likely to further anger Beijing, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says he will be visiting an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea during his current visit to the region that does not include a stop in China.
“The joint patrols between the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea are militarizing the region and are non-beneficial to regional peace and stability,” said a statement posted to the ministry’s website late Thursday. [FULL STORY]
