Philippines Needs US Ships to Counter China

Philippine armed forces has said it wants to get two more navy ships from the US to boost its maritime protection from China’s military threats.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista said on Wednesday “Within the last year, we realized that there is a real threat out there in terms of securing, defending our territory,” Aljazeera.net reported.

Bautista added the Philippines needs about six more frigates to effectively guard its coastline. “In fact, we are bidding now for two frigates, hopefully we will be able to acquire them in (a) couple of years,” Bautista said.

Reports stated the new acquisitions is within the $40 million military assistance pledged last year by US Secretary of State John Kerry in his visit in December.

The Philippines, a long-time US military ally, has already received two refurbished ships in the past two years, reports said, adding that these boats is now patrolling the South China Sea where, in 2012, the flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the first US acquisition, confronted Chinese vessels on Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines has been engaged in a tense dispute with China involving disputed reefs and islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Last week, China announced a new fisheries law where it required foreign vessels to get permits before engaging activities in the South China Sea. The Philippine government rejected the said law.

Source: Aljazeera.net

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