MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Wednesday (November 27th) criticised China's deployment of its first aircraft carrier to the South China Sea, saying that the move raised tensions in the region, AFP reported.

"Its deployment does not contribute to collective efforts to strengthen regional stability and instead serves to strengthen the status quo," Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a statement.

The newly commissioned Liaoning left its home port of Qingdao on Tuesday (November 26th) on a training mission to the South China Sea, accompanied by two missile destroyers and two missile frigates, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The deployment comes amid heightened tensions between China and its neighbours over disputed waters. Beijing at the weekend provoked a furious international response by declaring that it had air defence rights over islands controlled by Japan.