US Doubles Military Aid to Philippines, Ramps Up Asian-Pacific Presence
It has been revealed that the US will double military aid to the Philippines, which is engaged in a long time maritime impasse with China.
Washington’s ’defense assistance’ in 2012 will rise to $30 million for its ally in the Pacific, as confirmed by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on their recent visit to the area.
[Foreign Department spokesman Raul Hernandez] said the “foreign-military financing” aid could be used to buy new equipment or maintain existing military resources.
The US State Department also said “it will explore additional creative funding streams for the Philippines”, he told Agence France-Presse.
“The Philippines and the United States would also intensify cooperation in real-time information sharing to enable the Philippines to know what is happening in its maritime territory and enforce its laws,” Hernandez added.
He did not specify how this would work.
Source
This follows recent months of rising activity in the area, with the US staging war games and drills in the Philippines, to the discontent of China. Tensions are not abating on the Asia-Pacific region, as the US also is deepening its ties with Australia, and has been moving troops to OZ’s northern coast.
Where will these blatant maneuvers and provocations lead? Can the US and its allies afford another war theatre? Is this beneficial to the Philippines, or are they being used as a stepping stone to a new World War?
~E
Article sources:
globalnation.inquirer.net
washingtonpost.com
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