(FreedomBeacon.com)- Vice President Kamala Harris had to be reminded to greet the troops standing behind her as she spoke aboard a Philippines coast guard ship last week, according to The Gateway Pundit.
Harris was in the Philippines to reportedly engage in talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to defending the country.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China was not opposed to the U.S. having relations with other countries, as long as it is not “damaging to other countries’ interests.”
After the visit, Harris reportedly visited the island province of Palawan, a disputed territory on the coast of the South China Sea. The vice president said that the United States would respond to the “irresponsible behavior” occurring as numerous other Southeast Asian countries are asserting their sovereign rights over the region.
“We must stand up for principles such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, Harris told the Philippine coast guard officers. That includes ensuring that various countries can navigate freely in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific.
When her speech concluded, Harris shook a couple of servicemembers’ hands before waving to reporters and began to walk off the deck when she was reminded to greet the long line of servicemembers waiting for her.
This is not the first time the vice president did not salute the military. When stepping off and boarding Air Force Two in March 2021, footage reportedly showed Harris fluffing her hair rather than raising her hand. Every president has acknowledged and maintained the tradition since Ronald Reagan, including Vice Presidents Mike Pence and Joe Biden.
https://twitter.com/CapehartJ/status/1373091527086456838?s=20&t=xDIEeKhUf6Zaalz5ytSfTg
The only other vice president allegedly seen not saluting the military is Dick Cheney when he arrived in Charleston, South Carolina with Senator Lindsey Graham in 2006, though he claims that he did not salute because he was not within the chain of command as the president is.
