US aid to boost PH 'asymmetric, reconnaissance capabilities' —embassy spox

The United States Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday bared the priority equipment and materials that will be procured from Washington's $500-million military aid to the Philippines.

US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay told GMA News Online, “The planned [Foreign Military Financing] will be used to support the modernization of the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard as they transition to focus on external defense.”

“In order to enhance maritime security and maritime domain awareness, FMF will focus on asymmetric capabilities and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, and reconnaissance capabilities,” he added.

The embassy officials said the procurement efforts will target equipment and materials that are available to reach the Philippines “quickly.”

“Nothing more specific on timelines at this time,” he added.

The US announced a $500 million funding for the Philippines' military and coast guard on Tuesday during the 4th Philippines-US Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue held in Manila

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the military aid will be used for "hardening" the country's capabilities to deter unlawful aggression.

“The priorities will be laid down in the security sector assistance roadmap. Naturally, a lot of our inherent hardening capabilities are included like cyber capabilities and the like. These and all the EDCA investments will serve to secure the Philippines' credible deterrent posture,” Teodoro said.

“Every peso or dollar spent on hardening Philippine capabilities to defend itself and to deter unlawful aggression will be a plus against any threat actor, whether it be China or anyone,” he added.

China has warned the Philippines of a “greater insecurity” after the US made the pledge.

“The Philippines needs to see that ganging up with countries outside the region to engage in confrontation in the South China Sea will only destabilize the region and create more tensions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“To seek security assurance from external forces will only lead to greater insecurity and turn oneself into someone else’s chess piece,” he added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News