Noy, US officer discuss sea spat

From The Standard (Aug 27): Noy, US officer discuss sea spat

The commander of the United States Pacific Command discussed the territorial conflict in the West Philippine Sea during his courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III yesterday.

“The two of them discussed how to enhance our bilateral relations further. They also talked about the West Philippine Sea issue,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said in an interview after the closed-door meeting at the Palace.

“Admiral Harris also reiterated the commitment of the US to help us in enhancing our capability through training and joint military exercises,” Gazmin added.

Harris is scheduled to meet today (Thursday) with Armed Forces Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez in Palawan, the province nearest the disputed Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea.

There has been no word, though, whether Harris will join an aerial surveillance mission over the West Philippine Sea as did Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet.

Harris was accompanied to the Palace by US Ambassador to Manila Philip Goldberg, USPACOM Foreign Affairs Policy Advisor Christopher Marut, Senior Defense Official Col. Earnest Lee and Political Military Affairs Chief Marc Jackson.

Aside from Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri were also present during the meeting.

Harris also met with Gazmin and Iriberri at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday morning where they discussed Washington’s defense and security strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a statement, the AFP said the discussions “focused on safeguarding freedom of the seas, deterring conflict and coercion, and promoting adherence to international law and standards in order to preserve the peace and security the Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed for the past 70 years.”

“A frank and honest exchange of ideas regarding the evolving security challenges in the region as a result of natural disasters and issues involving the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea ensued during the dialogue,” the AFP said.

Harris also discussed the latest US Defense Department Asia Pacific Maritime Security Strategy Report with his Philippine counterparts.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/08/27/noy-us-officer-discuss-sea-spat/