China's sole aircraft carrier conducted exercises on Friday, the navy said without specifying its location, amid escalating disputes over maritime territory with some of China's Asian neighbors.
The Liaoning conducted drills and tests in the "relevant sea" along with carrier-based fighter jets after setting sail from the coastal city of Qingdao, the Chinese navy said.
China wants to develop an ocean-going "blue water" navy capable of defending the growing interests of the world's second largest economy as it adopts a more assertive stance in territorial disputes with neighbours in the South China and East China seas.
China had worked to boost its pilots' skills with fighter jets, including the Shenyang J-15, in recent years, the statement added, saying the navy had tested the power, war-readiness and technological capabilities of its aircraft.
The Liaoning, a Soviet-era ship bought from Ukraine in 1998 and refitted in China, has long been a symbol of China's naval build-up.
Successfully operating the 60,000-tonne Liaoning is the first step in what state media and some military experts believe will be the deployment of domestically built carriers by 2020.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims. China also disputes sovereignty of islands in the East China Sea with Japan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was looking into the report.
"We have to verify the report," DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Charles Jose told GMA News Online when sought for comment.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was looking into the report.
"We have to verify the report," DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Charles Jose told GMA News Online when sought for comment.
The Department of National Defense, on the other hand, indicated China could conduct its exercises in international territory.
"All countries are free to conduct exercises in international aerospace," DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said.
GMA News Online sought Malacañang for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines withheld comment, with spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala referring the query to the DFA and the DND.
Respect for international law
With the Chinese ambassador in the audience, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday called for respect for international law, which has been his administration's tact in dealing with its dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.
During the traditional Independence Day vin d'honneur in the provincial capitol here, Aquino urged diplomats to unite in dealing with current global problems.
"Join us, in this way, we can truly forge a global community in which each nation-state realizes that stability is hinged on their ability to work with others," Aquino said.
"This is the clearest path towards a world where there is mutual respect and we are all bound by international law," he added.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua was one of the diplomats who attended the event. Aquino shook hands and briefly spoke with the Chinese envoy before the vin d'honneur.
In an interview with GMA News after the event, the Chinese envoy maintained that China adheres to international laws.
"China has always upheld rule of law in the international arena, including the UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]. China is a party to the UNCLOS. China is going to observe the obligations we have as a party to international laws,” Zhao said.
"All countries are free to conduct exercises in international aerospace," DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said.
GMA News Online sought Malacañang for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines withheld comment, with spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala referring the query to the DFA and the DND.
Respect for international law
With the Chinese ambassador in the audience, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday called for respect for international law, which has been his administration's tact in dealing with its dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.
During the traditional Independence Day vin d'honneur in the provincial capitol here, Aquino urged diplomats to unite in dealing with current global problems.
"Join us, in this way, we can truly forge a global community in which each nation-state realizes that stability is hinged on their ability to work with others," Aquino said.
"This is the clearest path towards a world where there is mutual respect and we are all bound by international law," he added.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua was one of the diplomats who attended the event. Aquino shook hands and briefly spoke with the Chinese envoy before the vin d'honneur.
In an interview with GMA News after the event, the Chinese envoy maintained that China adheres to international laws.
"China has always upheld rule of law in the international arena, including the UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]. China is a party to the UNCLOS. China is going to observe the obligations we have as a party to international laws,” Zhao said.
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