by PDI
WASHINGTON—The
United States said Thursday it was ready to provide hardware to modernize the Philippine military, and the Philippines vowed to “stand up to aggressive action†amid rising tension at sea with China.
“We are determined and committed to supporting the defense of the Philippines,†US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said when asked about the hardware wish list from the Philippines.
She said the United States was committed to providing the Philippines
affordable military equipment (negosyo gihapon) to defend itself.
In a joint news conference with Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Clinton also said Washington would honor its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with Manila that calls on each country to help defend the other against an external attack in their territories or in “the Pacific area.â€
Del Rosario, with Clinton at his side, said the Philippines hoped to lease equipment to upgrade its aged fleet and called for the allies to revamp their relationship in light of the friction with China.
Tensions in the Spratly Islands have escalated in recent weeks, with the Philippines and Vietnam alarmed at what they say are increasingly aggressive actions by China in the disputed waters.
Several Southeast Asian nations have been seeking closer relationships with the United States, which since last year has called loudly for freedom of navigation in the strategic and resource-rich sea.
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