‘AID IN A MATTER OF HOURS’DND: US general’s words on helping PHL protect sovereignty ‘encouraging’

From GMA News (Oct 2): ‘AID IN A MATTER OF HOURS’DND: US general’s words on helping PHL protect sovereignty ‘encouraging’

The Department of National Defense has welcomed the statement of US Brigadier General Paul Kennedy, commander of the US 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, who said US forces would respond "within a matter of hours" if Philippine sovereignty was violated another country.

DND Spokesman Dr. Peter Galvez told GMA News Online on Friday that this was a great development between the two allies amid the continuing tension in the South China Sea.

“The Department sees General Kennedy's statement as an encouraging development and a clear signal of the United States' intention to promote security and stability in the region,” Galvez said.

Kennedy made the statement during the opening of the annual Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex) at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on Thursday.

“Sixty-four years, this alliance has held. Our mutual security has been upheld through the close working relationship that we have forged in that time,” Kennedy said.

“And I would tell anybody, and I see the press eagerly recording our words, I would tell you that if anybody would challenge the sovereignty of this country, their best friends within this region would respond within a matter of hours and generally, I assure you that that is not a hollow promise,” he added.

The Phiblex will involve over 1,500 soldiers including 860 US and 748 Filipino troops who will train Military encampments in Cavite, Tarlac and Zambales with Kennedy leading the US side of the exercises.

The Philippines is currently locked in a maritime dispute with China in conflicting claims over parts of the South China Sea which the latter claims in whole citing historical basis.China has conducted various land reclamations and constructions in the South China Sea since the dispute to which the Philippines responded with an arbitration case undert the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/539290/news/nation/dnd-us-general-s-words-on-helping-phl-protect-sovereignty-encouraging