US Pacific Fleet commander to visit PH this year

From the Philippine Star posted to ABS-CBN (Jun 30): US Pacific Fleet commander to visit PH this year

The commander of the US Pacific Fleet has lined up his visits this year to the Philippines and two other US allies in the region.

Philippine Consul General to Honolulu Gina Jamoralin met recently with Adm. Scott Swift at his headquarters in Pearl Harbor.

Swift, who assumed his post last May 27 during the Joint US Pacific Fleet and US Pacific Command change of command ceremonies, will also visit Japan and South Korea.

The Philippine consulate general in Honolulu said US Pacific Fleet ships are set to make port visits to the Philippines this year under the Pacific Partnership 2015 mission.

During the meeting with Swift, Jamoralin was accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) liaison Navy Capt. Rey de la Cruz.

Swift is the 35th Pacific Fleet commander since the fleet was established in February 1941.

The US Pacific Fleet area of responsibility encompasses almost half of the Earth’s surface, from the North Pole to Antarctica; from the west coasts of North America and South America, extending through the Pacific Ocean and concluding in the Indian Ocean.

Jamoralin thanked Swift for attending the Philippine consulate general’s reception on June 12 at the Hilton Waikiki Hotel, which was his first official public event after assuming the position of commander.

Swift appreciated the close relations between the US and the Philippines and added that under his leadership, he would maintain closer relations with the Philippine consulate general and the AFP.

Among the topics discussed was the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) disputes. The consul general updated the commander on the status of the Philippines’ arbitration case.

Swift appreciated the Philippines’ peaceful and rules-based approach to solving territorial claims according to international law.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06/30/15/us-pacific-fleet-commander-visit-ph-year