South Korea to donate warship to Philippines amid marine tensions with China
Seoul has confirmed it will donate a warship to the Philippines as tensions rise over conflicting claims to marine territory in the South China Sea
South Korea will donate a corvette warship to the poorly-equipped Philippine navy amid growing tensions – particularly with China – over maritime territorial disputes in the region, the government in Seoul said on Thursday.
The “Pohang-class corvette” will be decommissioned by the end of the year and donated to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement issued this week.
It was unclear if the donation would include the ship’s weapons systems.
South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwang-jin informed his Filipino counterpart Voltaire Gazmin of the donation during his visit to Seoul on May 30, the statement added.
“South Korea’s gesture is a small token compared with the great contribution of Filipino troops during the Korean War.”
The gift follows South Korea’s recent donation of a landing craft and 16 rubber boats to the Philippines, it added.
