US Gives Philippines Warship After South China Sea Ruling
Washington is finally transferring another Hamilton-class cutter to Manila.
7XRzjYON
By Prashanth Parameswaran
July 21, 2016
The United States is finally transferring another warship to the Philippines this week, just days after a landmark ruling on Manila’s case against China on the South China Sea.
The United States has already transferred two Hamilton-class cutters to its Southeast Asian ally over the past few years, with Manila acquiring the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar in 2011 and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz in 2013. Both warships have since been armed and deployed for patrols, including in the South China Sea.
But Washington has long sought to transfer a third cutter to Manila as well, a step the White House confirmed in a statement last November during U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to the Philippines, which included a speech aboard the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (See: “Obama Philippines Visit to Focus on Maritime Security”). As with the previous two, this transfer would occur under the Excess Defense Articles program, indicating used U.S. military items provided to allied and partner countries for modernization efforts at reduced or no cost (See: “The Truth About Philippine Military Modernization and the China Threat”).
http://thediplomat.com/2016/07/us-gives-philippines-warship-after-south-china-sea-ruling/
