Phl, US military chief meet

WASHINGTON – Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista called on Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Thursday and the two leaders discussed security issues, the US Defense Department said.

It gave no other details and the only record issued of the meeting was a photo of Dempsey welcoming Bautista at the Pentagon.

In recent weeks, Philippine and US officials have been discussing maritime security in Asia-Pacific in light of China’s increasing assertiveness over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

Later in the afternoon, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel left for Hawaii en route to a four-nation trip to Southeast Asia including the Philippines.

From Hawaii, Hagel will travel to Malaysia and Indonesia before visiting Brunei to meet his defense counterparts from across the Asia-Pacific region.

He  will visit Manila on Aug. 29-30 before returning to Washington.