The Philippine government on Friday said that the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier will not enter Philippine territory after typhoon Fengshen's onslaught over the archipelago amid controversy over legality.
"This carrier is not anchored in the country's territory. It is going around outside our territory and sends aircrafts or choppers and small crafts to help in the relief operations," Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. of the Philippines said on a TV show Friday morning.
Earlier this week, U.S. President George W. Bush directed the carrier to help the Philippine government in relief operations for the Fengshen-hit areas in the country. The typhoon's attack left at least 622 dead and over 900 missing in the Philippines.
Golez said the United States government has made it clear with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that it will not enter the Philippine territory and President Arroyo is aware of the Philippine Constitution's prohibition against nuclear weapons.
"We would like to stress that (only) the humanitarian focus of this aide was accepted by the President," Golez said.
The USS Ronald Reagan is a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group, which consists of a carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate.
Golez said the aircraft carrier will stay near the Philippine territory "as long as it is needed."
The presidential spokesman also said that the aircraft carrier will not be directly involved in the search and retrieval operations for the ill-fated ferry, M/V Princess of the Stars.
A separate U.S. vessel, a salvage ship, will join Philippine authorities in the retrieval operations, Golez added.
Source:Xinhua
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