Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: AFP

The nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier George Washington reached near Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on Thursday for a port visit. This visit shows the growing defence cooperation between the United States and the Philippines. Both countries want to stand strong against China’s wide claims in the South China Sea.

On the same day, China’s first aircraft carrier made in their own country, called the Shandong, arrived in Hong Kong. This shows how both the US and China are showing their power in the region at the same time.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, even though an international court has said that China’s claim has no legal basis. The South China Sea is very important because more than 60 percent of the world’s ships pass through these waters for trade.

A spokesperson from the ship, Lieutenant-Commander Mark Langford, said that the US Navy and its allies are committed to keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open for everyone. However, he did not share any more details about what the ship’s crew will do during their visit to the Philippines.

This visit highlights the strong friendship between the United States and the Philippines, and their shared aim to keep peace, security, and free movement in the region despite tensions with China.