The Philippine Navy on Monday released photos of the four patrol boats donated by China.
The 12-meter blue boats have an estimated speed of 30 to 32 knots. The Navy also received 30 units of rocket-propelled grenade launchers and ammunition, Navy spokesperson Cdr. Jonathan Zata said.
The Navy is still assessing where the boats will be used, but Zata said these were a welcome addition to their fleet.
“It’s an added platform for our counter-terrorism efforts, HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) and maritime law enforcement operations,” he said.
At the moment, the boats have no sleeping quarters and provisions for extended operations at sea.
A ranking Navy official did not seem impressed. “It’s an additional asset but it’s not tried and tested.”
“Pakitang tao (It’s a pretense),” he said of China’s gesture.
In late 2016, China offered military assistance of $14 million worth of small arms and fast boats to the Philippines for free.
China had also previously donated thousands of rifles and ammunition to the Philippine police and military as it battled Islamic State-linked terrorists in Marawi City.
President Rodrigo Duterte chose to seek warmer ties with China after a bitter territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea during the previous administration. He pursued an independent foreign policy and sought closer ties with China and Russia as it distanced the Philippines from the US.
China promises ‘corruption-free’ infrastructure aid to Philippines
Despite the friendly relationship between the two countries, China continues to assert “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea with its nine-dash line claim. It was invalidated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in 2016 but China has refused to acknowledge the ruling.
The Philippine government has also played down the ruling in exchange of economic investments and friendly ties with China.
LATEST STORIES
Tech scams to watch out for
Technology is everywhere these days, reaching into every aspect of our lives and empowering us in ways we never would have imagined in the past. With that new power comes new dangers however, and we … [Read More...]
AH-1W for Attack Chopper?
The U.S Department of Defense is in talks with their Philippine counterpart on the acquisition of 10 AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, with 2 frames possibly funded by Foreign Military Sales (FMS) … [Read More...]
Blackhawk in Philippines, Finally
The Philippine Air Force’s technical working group (TWG) has identified Sikorsky UH60 (Blackhawk) as the combat utility helicopter that would replace the mothballed Bell 412 EPIs, while the selection … [Read More...]
US willing to contribute to PHL Navy modernization, says official
The United States Navy on Monday said that it is willing to give some equipment needed for the Navy modernization training of the Philippine Navy's personnel. "We can contribute, certainly from … [Read More...]
Balangiga bells to be returned December
The bells of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, are set to be returned to the country before the end of year after more than a century of being in the United States as war booties from the Philippine-American … [Read More...]
Philippine Coast Guard to establish new radar station on Boracay island
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is establishing a new coastal radar station at Mount Luho on the island of Boracay to improve its visibility of maritime traffic along the Sibuyan and Sulu … [Read More...]
mount those grenade launchers to those boats and fire at the chinese coast guard and poachers