US Pacific Command chief visits Aquino amid China row

MANILA, Philippines - The new leader of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) paid a courtesy call to President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Admiral Harry Harris Jr. visited Aquino this afternoon and was accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, USPACOM Foreign Affairs Policy Advisor Christopher Marut, Senior Defense Official Colonel Earnest Lee and Political Military Affairs Chief Marc Jackson.

Harris was received by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri.

Harris also met with Gazmin and Iriberri at camp Aguinaldo this morning.

“The purpose of the visit is to discuss bilateral security concerns with the Philippines and gain local perspective on the security situation in the Pacific, where his troops are deployed," Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.

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

The US Navy official's visit comes amid China's continuing aggression in the disputed waters.

Officials are mum on whether Harris will join an aerial surveillance mission over the West Philippine Sea.

The 59-year-old admiral assumed leadership of the USPACOM on May 27.

Born in Japan to a Japanese mother, Harris is the highest-ranking Asian-American in the US Navy.

Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing EU head

Earlier today, Aquino also conferred the Order of Sikatuna on Ambassador Guy Ledoux, outgoing Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines.

Aquino presented the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu, Katangiang Ginto (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) to Ambassador Ledoux for his "creative efforts in promoting a robust partnership and cooperation between the Philippines and the EU, and his support for the Philippines’ development goals and shared multilateral objectives, such as addressing climate change, sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction and management."

The Order of Sikatuna is an order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to country.

It is one of the three senior honors of country along with the Philippine Legion of Honor and the Order of Lakandula.