MikeLigalig.com

by PDI

WASHINGTONâ€"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.”

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.

America is known to provide Philippines with 'affordable' aka (very old technology). Will we finally be able to afford missile systems now? But i wonder how old the missile systems the United States Defense Industry will sell Philippines. These systems cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. And Manila's budget is very limited.

Philippines will buy systems that are on clearance sale.

Diplomatic mumbo-jumbo never ceases to amuse me. Secretary Clinton said: “The United States does not take sides on territorial disputes over land features in the South China Sea, but we oppose the use of force or the threat of force to advance the claims of any party,”