The United States has deployed a P-8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore for the first time ever, both countries said, amid simmering regional tensions over Beijing's island-building in the disputed South China Sea. China is locked in a territorial dispute with four Southeast Asian countries -- including Washington allies Vietnam and the Philippines -- and the US in October sent a warship near the disputed Spratly Islands chain, arguing for its right to freedom of navigation. Singapore and Washington stressed the need for a strong US military presence in the region, where the plane was deployed Monday and will remain until December 14.

US deploys spy plane in Singapore amid sea row. (2015, December 9). The Philippine Star Printing, p. A-22.