In signal to China, Obama will give 2 ships to Philippines to boost its maritime security
US President Barack Obama put tensions over Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea squarely on the agenda ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit in Manila
With a towering warship behind him, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced that his nation will hand over two ships to the Philippine Navy to boost its maritime security capabilities, in a bid to show the US and its allies won’t be cowed by Beijing in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Obama said the pair of ships — one U.S. Coast Guard cutter, one research vessel — were part of a broader American plan to scale up assistance to naval forces in Southeast Asia, where coastal nations feel threatened by China’s moves to assert control over the South China Sea. Obama said the US had an “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines — a US treaty ally — and a mutual commitment to free and safe navigation at sea.
“More capable navies, in partnership with the United States, are critical to the security of this region,” Obama said as he opened a six-day tour of the Philippines and Malaysia. He said the ships would help the Philippines navigate and patrol its territorial waters.
Obama made the pledges shortly after arriving in Manila for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders to also be attended by President Xi Jinping.
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