Asian Defense News: Philippines to sign deal for military equipment

Agence France-Presse in Manila
Dec 08, 2010

Asian Defense News: The Philippines said yesterday it was set to sign a "substantial" deal to buy military equipment from China, but insisted it should not impact on its close ties with the United States.

The logistics deal was to be signed in Beijing by Philippine armed forces chief General Ricardo David.

The visit was aimed at "building bridges of goodwill" and to boost defence relations between the Asian nations, Philippine military spokesman Brigadier General Jose Mabanta said.

"It would formalise the very good relationship between our countries in terms of exchange of logistics, which the Philippines will be greatly benefiting from," he said.

Although details of the deal were not available, Mabanta described its benefits as "very substantial" for the 130,000-strong Philippine force. He said it would beef up the ill-equipped and often cash-strapped military, which despite US assistance has not been able to crush decades-long communist and Muslim separatist rebellions.

Mabanta emphasised the planned deal did not signify a shift in military alliances, stressing that the Philippines valued Washington's continued help against al-Qaeda-linked militants on the country's main southern island. "There are no political implications," he said.

Hundreds of US troops have been stationed in the southern Philippines since early 2002, helping to train their Filipino counterparts in how to combat the Abu Sayyaf militants.

The Philippines is also a former US colony and remains one of the United States' closest allies in Asia.

The US has previously expressed concern over China's growing military and economic muscle in the region, mostly by ploughing millions of dollars in investments and assistance to its weaker neighbours.

When asked if the logistics deal was to buy military equipment from China, Mabanta said he was not sure.

However, the Philippine military said previously that China last month gave it 33 pieces of heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, worth about 172 million pesos (HK$30.4 million).

The army used the equipment to build roads and bridges to bring outreach programmes to remote areas where Maoist New People's Army (NPA) rebels operate, as well as in rehabilitation efforts in places that had been hit by natural disasters.

The NPA is the armed unit of the Communist Party of the Philippines, whose rebellion that began in 1969 was initially supported by Beijing.

Mabanta said yesterday China had cut ties with the NPA long ago and was now focused on helping improve the Philippine army.

This file photo taken on July 2, 2010 shows Philippine soldiers marching during a parade at the handover ceremony for the new military's chief of staff, attended by President Aquino (not pictured) at the military headquarters in Manila. The Philippines said Decmber 7, 2010 it was set to sign a 'substantial' deal to buy military equipment from China, but insisted it should not impact on its close ties with the United States.