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 China claims almost the entire South China Sea, believed to have
huge deposits of oil and gas. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the waters, through
which about $5 trillion in trade is shipped every year.
Carter flew to the USS John C. Stennis after getting a situation
briefing at a Philippine base on the western island of Palawan.
"With each Balikatan and each cruise by the Stennis, with each new
multilateral exercise and each new defense agreement, we add a
stitch to the fabric of the region's security network," Carter at
the close of joint U.S.-Philippines "Balikatan" military exercises
in Manila before the ship visit.
"This is the network - peaceful, principled, and inclusive - America
continues to stand for, and stand with."
Though not unprecedented, it was still a visit likely to inflame
tensions with China, which says the United States is "militarizing"
the South China Sea and endangering security. Carter visited another
carrier in the region last November.
 The United States has already conducted what it calls "freedom of
navigation" patrols in the area, sailing within 12-nautical mile
territorial limits around disputed islands controlled by China to
underscore its right to navigate the seas.
In a brief statement, China's Defence Ministry said Fan Changlong,
one of the vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission which
controls China's military, had recently visited some of China's
islands and reefs there.
While not saying where or when he went, it did say he met soldiers
and inspected building work.
China is building lighthouses and other civilian facilities there it
says are for all the sea's users. The ministry added that four of
the five lighthouses were now in operation.
It had earlier denounced plans announced in Manila on Thursday to
deepen U.S.-Philippine military ties, including joint patrols in the
South China Sea, saying they reflected a "Cold War mentality".
CHINA SAYS U.S. PROMOTING MILITARIZATION OF SEA
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the U.S. move proved
"who was the real promoter of the militarization of the South China
Sea".
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The United States had never been able to give an example of civilian
freedom of navigation being affected in the South China Sea, he told
a daily news briefing.
"In reality, what the U.S. is probably talking about is military
freedom of navigation and safety. If that's the case, then many
countries, not only in this region, will hope that these big
countries can act in accordance with international law."
Carter said on Thursday the U.S. strategy was aimed at maintaining
peace and lawful settlement of disputes, not provoking a conflict
with a major world power.
"Countries that don't stand for those things, or don't stand with
those things, are going to end up isolating themselves. But that
will be self-isolation, not isolation by us," Carter said.
The carrier stop caps off a trip to Asia designed to highlight the
expanding partnerships the United States is building with countries
in the region, which Carter said had been asking for a greater U.S.
role.
"We will continue to stand up for our safety and freedoms, for those
of our friends and allies, and for the values, principles, and
rules-based order that has benefited so many for so long," Carter
said.
Hundreds of U.S. troops and some aircraft will stay behind in the
Philippines temporarily, and on Thursday, the two countries revealed
they had begun conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea.
(Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato in Manila and Ben Blanchard
in Beijing; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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