U.S. aircraft carrier calls at Singapore as China, Philippines spar

SINGAPORE -- U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, docked in Singapore this week, in a display of America's military prowess in Southeast Asia amid a spat between China and the Philippines in nearby disputed waters.

U.S. Navy vessels call at Singapore, a close partner in the region, from time to time, and officials described the visit as part of "daily routine global operations." But the nuclear-powered Vinson, which docked on Sunday, has arrived at a particularly sensitive time. Chinese and Philippine vessels have been embroiled in skirmishes in the nearby South China Sea, raising the risk of escalating conflict.