US Pacom chief arrives, meets with DND, AFP execs on RP-China tension

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 6): US Pacom chief arrives, meets with DND, AFP execs on RP-China tension

The commander of the United States-Pacific Command (US-Pacom) will be arriving today for a two-day meeting with top Philippine defense and military officials amid the ongoing tension between China and Manila over the disputed West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila announced that Admiral Samuel Locklear III, commander of the Hawaii-based US-Pacom, will be in Manila June six to seven meetings with his counterparts in the Philippine government.

“During his visit, Admiral Locklear will consult with defense officials in the Philippine government on a range of common security challenges,” the US Embassy stated.
“No open media events are planned for the visit,” it added.

Locklear’s visit to the country follows his attendance last weekend of the Shangri-La Dialog in Singapore where he also met with defense officials from other countries across the Asia-Pacific Region.

The visit also came amid the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China over Ayungin Shoal, which is part of the Kalayaan Islands Group (KIGs) or the Spratlys, in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

During his speech at the Shangri-La Dialog, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin admitted that territorial disputes in the Asia Pacific region are among the emerging security concerns.

Gazmin, however, did not specifically mention the dispute over the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Malaysian, Brunei and Vietnam.

The Philippines is again in a tense “standoff” with China over Ayungin Shoal in the KIGs or the Spratlys after Chinese maritime surveillance ships continue to stay in the vicinities of the Philippine-occupied territory.

A security official said that China is trying to “establish foothold” on Ayungin Shoal despite the presence of Philippine Navy troops there.

In April last year, Chinese ships also engaged Philippine vessels in a standoff in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Masinloc town in Zambales after Filipino authorities tried to apprehend Chinese poachers. The Chinese have not left the area since then and have harassed Filipino fishermen.

The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/15046-us-pacom-chief-arrives-meets-with-dnd-afp-execs-on-rp-china-tension