HOW FAR WILL THAT DRAGON SWIM? HOW NERVOUS ARE THE NEIGHBORS?
PH asks Japan for $110m loan for 10 patrol vessels
From the Manila Standard:
The Philippines has asked Japan for a $110 million loan to purchase 10 patrol boats that will boost its surveillance capability in the coastal areas inside its territory, including the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the plan to purchase the boats was not intended to bolster its position in the dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea but to upgrade the capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“This is actually to upgrade the equipment of our Philippine Coast Guard for it to be able to do its mandate to monitor our seas, and make sure that there will be no intrusions in our maritime zones,” Hernandez said.
“We have already officially transmitted to the Japanese government our request for a loan program for 10 patrol boats for the PCG, and this is now under consideration by the government of Japan,” he said.
“We have already officially transmitted to the Japanese government our request for a loan program for 10 patrol boats for the PCG, and this is now under consideration by the government of Japan,” he said.
The Philippines applied for the loan last December, but Japanese newspaper Nikkei Business Daily has reported that Japan will also donate an unspecified number of patrol boats by 2014. The patrol boats cost $11 million each.
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