MANILA: The Philippines stated on Thursday (Nov 7) that its coast guard will purchase 40 quick patrol boats from France, with plans to deploy a few of them in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
The deal is the “largest single buy to this point” as a part of Manila’s ongoing effort to modernize its coast guard, with deliveries to start in 4 years, Philippine Coast Guard Commander L ‘Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
He declined to offer specs for the ships, which Manila says will value 25.8 billion pesos ($440 million), which shall be financed by improvement help from the French authorities.
He stated a few of the ships shall be deployed within the South China Sea, the place Philippine maritime forces have taken half in violent clashes with the Chinese coast guard this yr – a part of a territorial dispute over the waters and land options.
China claims many of the sea, together with waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and several other different neighbors, ignoring a world courtroom’s ruling that its claims haven’t any authorized foundation.
“This is a game-changer for us,” Gavan stated, describing the ships as “quick sufficient to achieve the perimeters of our unique financial zone” for regulation enforcement and different missions.
“This shall be a part of the combination of forces we have to handle threats within the space,” he added.
