Ensure territorial rights in South China Sea

In what appears to be a change in strategy, Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II visited the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson patrolling the disputed South China Sea on the invitation of the US Navy.
The visit marks a stark deviation from Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy. Soon after taking office of the president of Philippines, Duterte declared that he would chart foreign policy independent of US. The relations between the longtime allies soured after Duterte berated former US President Barack Obama, who raised concern over Duterte’s deadly anti-drug crackdown.
Duterte even stopped Philippines Navy to carry out joint patrols of the contested waters. After Obama left White House, Duterte moderated his language towards the US, allowing an opportunity for military engagements to continue to flourish. The maverick Philippine president understood that the new US administration would take a firmer stance on the territorial disputes.
The visit also signals continuing top-level engagements between Philippine officials and the US military despite Duterte’s threat to scale back engagements with American forces while reaching out to China and Russia.
China had opposed US patrols in waters it has claimed virtually in its entirety. In recent years, China has turned seven disputed reefs into islands and is now reportedly installing a missile defense system. Beijing stressed that they have a right to carry out the constructions in what they say are their territories. Although China says it has no hostile intentions in the region, worries over Beijing’s actions have grown. Governments of the neighbouring countries fear its actions could later restrict movement in a key waterway for world commerce with rich fishing grounds and potential undersea deposits of oil and gas. The worry over China’s intentions is mounting. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have rival claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing’s is the largest. The US has categorically said that under no circumstances the international community would allow Beijing to shut down access to the South China Sea.
The US navy said the deployment of 95,000-ton warship ensures freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, a key waterway for global commerce and security. The international community must continue to demonstrate that international waters are waters where everyone can sail, where everyone can conduct commerce and merchant traffic. It should belong to all.
The presence of the carrier in the South China Sea reassures American allies, who have expressed concerns over China’s aggressive actions to assert its claims to virtually all of the South China Sea. It is not the first time the nuclear-powered Carl Vinson is passing through the contested region. The US has challenged Beijing four times since 2015 by sailing close to Chinese-held islands in the disputed waters. US warships have routinely patrolled the waters for decades. China scoffed at US patrols and sent its sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, in January as well as bombers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft through the region.
During his confirmation hearing, new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should be blocked from accessing the artificial islands it’s built. The United States must show determination on the South China Sea. Trump administration should deploy a tougher approach to contain Beijing’s military activities in South China Sea. Also there is need of strategy to ensure freedom of navigation in the disputed waterway.