US admiral arrives today

From The Standard (Aug 26): US admiral arrives today

THE commander of the United States Pacific Command is scheduled to arrive in the country on Wednesday to discuss security problem involving the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Admiral Harry Harris Jr. will meet top Philippine military officials before flying to Palawan to assess the security situation in the WPS.

Harris will be accorded military honors by AFP chief of staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri at Camp Aguinaldo before holding discussions with ranking military officials in Palawan.

“The purpose of the visit is to discuss bilateral security concerns with the Philippines and gain local perspective on the security situation because the Pacific is an area of where his troops are deployed,” AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

“He has to get a very good perspective on what is happening on the ground. That is why he wanted to visit Admiral Alexander Lopez so that he can be personally be brief by the commander,” Detoyato said, noting that the meeting will take place at the Western Command headquarters in Puerto Princesa City.

The Western Command headquarters is near Philippine Navy bases in Ulugan Bay which are being offered to the US as a base for visiting American forces and vessels under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) the Philippines inked with the US.

Harris earlier reiterated US concern over security matters in the West Philippine Sea and said China is “creating a great wall of sand’’ through its land reclamation, causing serious concerns about its territorial intentions.

“But what’s really drawing a lot of concern in the here and now is the unprecedented land reclamation currently being conducted by China,’’ he said. “China is building artificial land by pumping sand onto live coral reefs—some of them submerged—and paving over them with concrete. China has now created over 4 square kilometers [1.5 square miles] of artificial landmass,’’ he said.

Harris said the region is known for its beautiful natural islands, but “in sharp contrast, China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers over the course of months.’’

China claims virtually all of the South China Sea. The Philippines and other countries which have territorial disputes with China in the busy sea have been particularly concerned by the land reclamation projects, which have turned a number of previously submerged reefs in the Spratlys archipelago into artificial islands with buildings, runways and wharves. The islands could be used for military and other facilities to bolster China’s territorial claims.

Harris said the pace of China’s construction of artificial islands “raises serious questions about Chinese intentions.’’

He said the United States continues to urge all claimants to conform to the 2002 China-ASEAN Declaration of Conduct, in which the parties committed to “exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.’’

“How China proceeds will be a key indicator of whether the region is heading toward confrontation or cooperation,’’ he said.

The U.S. says it has a national interest in the peaceful resolution of the disputes in a region crucial for world trade. China says its territorial claims have a historical basis and objects to what it considers U.S. meddling.

Harris said the United States is on track to reposition 60 percent of its navy to the Pacific Fleet by 2020.

“By maintaining a capable and credible forward presence in the region, we’re able to improve our ability to maintain stability and security,’’ he said. “If any crisis does break out, we’re better positioned to quickly respond.’’

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