President Obama on Tuesday pledged to give the Philippine Navy two ships and a chunk of a $250 million pot earmarked for Asian nations to help them bolster maritime security.
Obama made the announcement while touring the BRP Gregorio del Pilar in Manila Harbor, Philippines. The one-time U.S. Coast Guard vessel, formerly the Hamilton, is the Philippines’ flagship and patrols South China Sea around the disputed Spratly Islands, to which China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam all have a claim.
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“It’s part of our larger plan to increase maritime security assistance to our allies and our partners across the region, $250 million over the course of two years,” stated Obama, who is in Manila for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. “More capable navies and partnership with the United States are critical to the security of this region.”
China’s controversial claims to build up on islands, atolls, reefs and archipelagoes in the region were a key concern ahead of the APEC summit. The Obama administration simultaneously sought to encourage the parties to cooperate and peacefully resolve the disputes while also putting China on notice with military movements in the region.
“For 70 years, the U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific has been the foundation of regional peace, stability, and security in the region,” the Obama administration stated in a fact sheet. “Our presence has supported the stability and openness necessary for the unimpeded flow of resources and trade across Asia’s waterways that has been critical to its unprecedented economic success.”
“In the current environment, we are enabling our allies and partners to modernize their maritime capabilities in order to address the evolving dynamics of the region,” the administration stated.
The administration pledged $140 million to regional allies this fiscal year, pending congressional approval, in addition to the $119 million allocated in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The funds will be distributed among Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. At $79 million in fiscal 2015, the Philippines is the largest recipient.
The archipelago nation will also receive the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Boutwell and eventually a research vessel, the R/V Melville “to support naval research and law enforcement capabilities,” according to the fact sheet.
As part of the regional assistance, the Defense Department will conduct more frequent and more complex joint training exercises with local militaries.
In addition to aid money to Vietnam, Obama is lifting the ban on sales of maritime-related lethal capabilities to Hanoi.
