Page 3 - Aruba Today
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U.S. NEWS A3
Friday 6 November 2015
Pentagon chief takes jab at China with aircraft carrier stop
ROBERT BURNS features in the South Chi- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter gestures as he speaks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Carter made
AP National Security Writer na Sea,” he said. a subtle jab at China on Thursday by flying aboard an American aircraft carrier plying the con-
ABOARD THE USS THEODORE tested waters of the South China Sea.
ROOSEVELT (AP) — With a “And most of the activ-
key Asian ally at his side, ity over the last year be- (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash ing perpetrated by China.
Carter made a subtle jab There’s a lot of concern ing in international waters “All of our interactions were Navy as a freedom of navi-
at China on Thursday by about Chinese behavior in accord with international very professional,” Francis gation operation. But Fran-
flying aboard an American out here,” he told reporters law. said. “I never felt threat- cis said he and his crew
aircraft carrier plying the traveling with him. But the Chinese pressed ened.” saw it as just another day
contested waters of the Last week a U.S. Navy de- the matter, he said, by re- In the United States, much on the seas.
South China Sea. stroyer, peating the query over was made of the Lassen “We enjoyed the extra
He and his Malaysian coun- the USS Lassen, chal- and over. patrol, known in the U.S. publicity,” he said.q
terpart, Hishammuddin lenged China’s claim to
Hussein, watched U.S. Navy a 12-mile territorial limit
fighter jets roar off the steel around Subi Reef in the
deck of the USS Theodore Spratly Islands about 150
Roosevelt as it sailed un- miles to 200 miles from
der a midday sun about 70 where the Theodore Roos-
miles northwest of Borneo. evelt was sailing Thursday.
Carter said his visit and the The Lassen patrolled with
presence of the hulking about six or seven miles
warship should not be seen of the reef, according to
as a new twist to the U.S. Cmdr. Robert C. Francis Jr.,
naval presence is Asia. skipper of the Lassen.
But he made no bones In an interview aboard
about the signal he was the Roosevelt, Francis said
sending by visiting amid ris- the crew of a Chinese de-
ing tensions with China. stroyer that shadowed the
“If it’s being noted today in Lassen for several days
a special way, it’s because contacted the ship with a
of the tension in this part standard “query” about
of the world, mostly aris- what the Lassen was do-
ing from disputes over land ing. Francis said his crew
replied that it was operat-
NY Governor, NYC Mayor Join Puerto Rico Health Care Rally
DANICA COTO Ricans in New York City as Associated Press. friends in their 70s are still old Vietnam veteran, said
Associated Press well as the entire island, Protesters echoed those working to make ends he worried that elderly
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) called on Congress to en- concerns as they won- meet amid Puerto Rico’s people on the island would
— New York Gov. Andrew sure the island gets a “fair dered what would happen nearly decade-long eco- see a reduction in their
Cuomo and New York City share of Medicaid dollars.” to their benefits and cov- nomic slump. coverage and not be able
Mayor Bill de Blasio joined “It is not just a health care erage. Some said many Salvador Robles, a 72-year- to afford medication. q
thousands of demonstra- crisis, and a humanitar-
tors Thursday demanding ian crisis in the making, it’s New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo talks with Puerto Rico’s Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla, center,
equal treatment for Puer- worse than that,” de Blasio and Padilla’s wife Wilma Pastrana, center right, as they march next to New York City Mayor Bill de
to Rico on federal health said. “The fact that our fed- Blasio, background right, during a protest in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015.
care. The demonstrators eral government does not
were protesting Medicaid treat Puerto Rico fairly on (AP Photo/Dennis M. Rivera Pichardo)
reimbursements in the U.S. Medicaid ... is deepening
territory that officials say the financial crisis” on the
are 70 percent lower than island.
on the U.S. mainland and Nearly 70 percent of Puer-
Medicare reimbursements to Rico’s population relies
that are 40 percent lower. on Medicare or Medicaid,
The appearance by New and officials warn that po-
York’s top political figures, tential cuts in current pay-
which also included New ments starting next year
York City Comptroller Scott could add up to $3 billion
Stringer and City Council through 2017.
Speaker Melissa Mark-Vi- If the cuts are implement-
verito, came two months ed, the island’s health care
after they announced a system will start to collapse,
partnership with the island said Ricardo Rivera, execu-
seeking to help it regain tive director of Puerto Ri-
its financial footing amid a co’s Health Insurance Ad-
$72 billion public debt bur- ministration.
den. De Blasio, who said he “The government is not in a
was participating on be- position to contribute any
half of the 700,000 Puerto more money,” he told The
