Philippine government officials led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana are scheduled to meet with the chief of the US Pacific Command in Hawaii.
Joining the meeting with聽Adm. Harry Harris Jr. are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Interior Secretary Eduardo A帽o,聽and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, according to Defense spokesperson Dir. Arsenio Andolong.
The trip comes amid China鈥檚 massive military buildup in the South China Sea, but Andolong could not give details of the trip鈥檚 agenda.
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鈥淓verything is open to speculation but we don鈥檛 know exactly what they would discuss. They may or may not [tackle the South China Sea issue]. What is interesting here is Secretary A帽o and ES are joining,鈥� Andolong told reporters on Thursday.
The trip will be from May 17 to 21.
Harris,聽a vocal critic to China鈥檚 military expansion in the South China Sea,聽is set to retire from the service聽later聽this聽month and is reportedly being considered to serve as the next US ambassador to South Korea or Australia. He will be replaced by Adm. Philip Davidson.
The US PACOM鈥檚 area of responsibility includes the Asia-Pacific. It conducts freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea and describes its mission as 鈥渆nhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression, and when necessary, fighting to win.鈥� /ee
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