Amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, another US combat ship is arriving in Manila for a four-day routine port call.
The USS Milius (DDG-69), an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, visit highlights the strong historic, community and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines,” the US Embassy, in a statement, yesterday said.
South China Sea tensions escalated last month when China announced a new city and military garrison in the diputed Paracel Islands, prompting Washington to voice
concern.
USS Milius is one of only 21 US ships with ballistic defense missile capable platforms.
This would be the second time that USS Milius is making a port call in Manila, the first was in September 2007, along with another missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon.
Washington has earlier said it will deploy the majority of its naval forces to the Asia-Pacific region over the next decade.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has stated the anticipation for more frequent visits of US ships in the country as part of the US planned increased military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Only last May, nuclear-powered submarine, USS North Carolina, docked at the Subic Bay in Zambales supposedly for replenishment.
At the time, the Philippines has been locked in a tense standoff with China over the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
Authorities, however, stressed that the stopover of the US submarine has nothing to do with the dispute.           Mario J. Mallari