PHILIPPINES BUYS ARMS AMID TENSIONS

CLARK: Philippines President Benigno Aquino has approved the purchase of 44 billion pesos (33 billion baht) worth of military equipment to help boost maritime security capability as tensions simmer in the South China Sea, a senior defence official said yesterday.

Defence under-secretary Fernando Manalo made the announcement after the government received the first two of a dozen new South Korean-made light fighter jets to enhance the country’s air defence capabilities.

Mr Aquino authorised the multi-year contract to purchase two frigates, eight amphibious assault vehicles, t hree anti-submarine helicopters, two longrange patrol aircraft, three aerial radars, munitions for the fighters and close support planes, Mr Manalo said.

The FA-50 fighter trainers from South Korea were acquired by the Philippines for 18.9 billion pesos. Seoul has committed to deliver 10 more light fighters until 2017.

“We’re glad we are back to the supersonic age,” said Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, witnesssing the transfer of the aircraft from Korean Aerospace to the Philippine Air Force.

The Philippines has had no fighter capability since it mothballed its Vietnam War vintage F-5A/Bs in the mid-2000s. It has a few S-211 Italian trainer jets, acquired in the late 1980s.

“With these aircraft, our capability to guard maritime borders will be enhanced,” an air force general who declined to be identified said.

“Our response time will be quicker but we would need radar and communications to fully integrate our air defence systems.”

The government has embarked on a five-year, 83-billion-peso modernisation programme to improve its ability to defend its maritime borders against the creeping expansion of China in the South China Sea.

China has built seven artificial islands in the Spratly Islands.