Writer Ma Mengli
BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Missiles unleashed during a joint U.S.-Philippines military drill on Thursday have once again stirred up tensions in the South China Sea, but they won't undermine China's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty.
On Thursday, the United States revealed for the first time that it had launched joint South China Sea naval patrols with the Philippines.
In a show of military force, U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter also announced that nearly 300 troops and five A-10 ground attack aircraft currently in the Philippines for the annual war games will remain in the country through the end of the month.
By increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States is wading deeper and deeper into a regional row, on which it has promised to stay neutral.
Washington has sent its warships and warplanes to waters and airspace near China's territory in the Sea in recent years.
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