By Mario J. Mallari
The Daily Tribune
The Daily Tribune
A visiting admiral of the United States military yesterday vowed US help to the Philippines should China invade Pagasa Island, the seat of government of Kalayaan town in Palawan and one of the Philippine-occupied islands and reefs in the disputed South China Sea.
While stressing he does not want to deal with hypothetical questions, Adml. Jonathan Greenert, chief of the US Naval Operations, during a forum in Camp Aguinaldo, said the US is committed to helping the Philippines.
Admiral Jonathan Greenert (File Photo)
“I really hate to deal on hypotheticals…but, of course, we would help you and I don’t know what that help would be asked specifically. We have an obligation because we have a treaty,” said Greenert, who is in the country for three-day official visit. Greenert met with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Adml. Jose Luis Alano.
The US Navy official said the US government is opposed to any move or behavior contrary to international norms and established procedures.
Greenert, however, stressed the US does not want conflict or getting into combat.
Pagasa Island, the second largest in terms of land area among the islands and reefs within the Kalayaan Islands Group (KIGs) or the Spratlys, is the seat of the local government of Kalayaan town headed by Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon.
Earlier reports stated China’s supposed plan to occupy Pagasa Island, which was denied by China.
Greenert stressed the need of the Philippine government to improve its maritime domain awareness to monitor its territorial waters, particularly the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
Asked what advice he would give to Philippine officials on actions regarding the disputed territory, Greenert replied “I would work on maritime domain awareness…I would work to be sure that we had a clarity of what’s going on out there, in and around the West Philippine Sea on a consistent manner.”
The US Navy admiral also scored China’s implementation of air defense identification zone (Adiz) in East China Sea where Beijing is disputing Senkaku Island with Japan.
While the imposition of Adiz is not new, Greenert said that such action should be discussed among neighboring nations to prevent conflict.
“Just drop it in like that is not very useful, without any conversation among the neighborhood, the responsible nations…that wasn’t helpful when China did that,” said Greenert.
Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday said the visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines in April will provide a new momentum to the Philippine-US relations.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. confirmed the earlier announcement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that Obama is set to visit late April this year.
Aside from the Philippines, the US president will also be visiting Japan, South Korea, Malaysia in the same month.
“President Obama will meet with President Aquino to discuss ways to further strengthen enduring alliance,” Coloma told a Palace briefing.
He said the alliance includes the expanding of security, economic and people-to-people ties.
“President Obama’s visit will provide a new momentum to Philippine-US relations and strengthen the partnerships of the two nations in many areas,” the Palace official added.
He also said there is no concrete information on what particular topics will be discussed between the two Presidents since the agenda is still being finalized.PNA and AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment