Chinese Carrier Passes Close to Philippines on Way to Pacific Drills, Taiwan Says

CHINA - TAIPEI, July 10 (Reuters) - Chinese aircraft carrier the Shandong passed close to the northern Philippines on its way to drills in the Pacific, Taiwan's defense minister said on Wednesday, as Taipei reported dozens of warplanes joining the ship for exercises.

The maneuvering of the carrier through waters closer to the Philippines than to Taiwan comes during a period of rising tensions between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.