US Defence Secretary Carter to cruise on US warship near disputed sea

United States Secretary of Defence Ash Carter and his Malaysian counterpart will cruise on the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday. PHOTO: EPA

KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - United States Secretary of Defence Ash Carter and his Malaysian counterpart will cruise on the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday (Nov 5), a US defence official said, for a voyage likely to highlight tension over rival claims in the South China Sea.

There was no information about where the US warship would sail but it has been on patrol in the South China Sea where territorial disputes between China and several of its neighbours have raised fears of conflict.

Mr Carter and the Malaysian minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, have been attending a regional defence ministers' meeting in Malaysia, along with the Chinese defence chief, where differences over the South China Sea surfaced.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.