China, Philippines argue over defence chief's island visit

China has protested the visit by Manila's defence and military chiefs to a disputed island in the South China Sea, but the Philippine government maintains it owns the territory where Filipino troops and villagers have lived for decades.
The public argument comes amid a thaw in once-frosty relations between the neighbours after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office last June and moved to rekindle Manila's friendship with Beijing, which has been strained by the long-seething territorial disputes.
Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and military chief of staff Gen Eduardo Ano flew to Pag-asa Island with dozens of journalists yesterday to inspect an eroded airstrip, which the government plans to reinforce and lengthen. They also met Filipino troops and villagers and took part in a flag-raising ceremony.