U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited a U.S. aircraft carrier transiting the disputed South China Sea on Friday, as China said one of its top military officers had visited islands and reefs in the region to oversee building work. 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.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-philippines-carter-idUSKCN0XC074
