US military contingent in Phl for defense talks

MANILA, Philippines - A United States military contingent, including a senior marine official highly critical of China’s military buildup in the South China Sea, is in the country for the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) talks.

Brig. Gen Richard Simcock III, deputy commander of US Marines Corps Forces Pacific, arrived in the country at about 9 p.m. Sunday aboard United Airlines flight UA183 from Guam.

A US embassy staff car fetched Simcock and his contingent at the airport.

His team will meet with Armed Forces of the Philippines senior officials for MDB-SEB talks set today at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Aside from the humanitarian aspect, also to be discussed in the MDB-SEB meet – usually held in the country and Hawaii under the auspices of the Mutual Defense Treaty – are the joint Balikatan exercises and other military drills between Filipino and US servicemen.

Simcock has criticized Beijing, saying it is generating fears among its neighbors.

He made the remark at a time when China is engaged in territorial disputes over islets in the East China Sea and the South China Sea with Japan and the Philippines. – Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero