US destroyer sent to South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines - One of the most formidable warships in the United States Navy has been deployed in the South China Sea and Sulu Sea for “freedom of navigation operations,” reports said.

Yahoo Online News said that USS Chung-Hoon, a guided-missile destroyer, has been sent on an independent deployment to the South China as well as to the Sulu Sea early this week to assert right of free passage in the region.

“The ship will be sailing through waters that the US considers international waters to assert right of free passage and to demonstrate the international community does not accept national claims to the contrary,” the report said.

The deployment of the US warship came amid rising tension among claimant countries in the Spratly Islands group stoked largely by reported provocative activities of Chinese vessels in the area. China is claiming the entire South China Sea as its own, citing historical records.

Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims in whole or in part to some islets, shoals and reefs in the South China Sea.

Claimant countries, except Brunei, have forces in the disputed territories.

The US embassy said the Chung-Hoon is one of the US Navy ships invited to participate in the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the Philippines and the US navies.

“More details (on CARAT) would be released when appropriate,” US embassy spokesman Rebecca Thompson said.

CARAT exercise is held yearly as part of a mutual defense agreement between the Philippines and the US.

Earlier, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. assured the Philippines of support against threats to its security. – Jaime Laude