China agrees to give $1.2 mln army aid to Manila
Manila, May 26: China has agreed to give the Philippines 1.2 million dollars worth of military engineering equipment as parts of efforts to build security ties with a close ally of the United States.
Antonio Santos, a retired general and defence undersecretary, said the equipment including bulldozers would be delivered in 2008, the third batch from China since the two countries established defence relations a decade ago.
''These equipment would be used to build roads and bridges in conflict areas in the south,'' Santos told Reuters on Saturday, a day after an annual security meeting between defence officials from the two countries.
Since 1951, the Philippines has a defence treaty with the United States, its former colonial ruler and security partner, and is negotiating a similar arrangement with Australia and other Southeast Asian states.
Yesterday, defence officials from the Philippines and China exchanged views on international and regional security issues including a territorial dispute over the Spratly islands.
Several countries in the region Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, China and its renegade province Taiwan have conflicting claims on dozens of uninhabited islands in the South China Sea believed to be rich in oil, gas and minerals.
Manila and Beijing established relations in 1975 but it took another 20 years before they agreed to exchange visits of senior defence and military officials.
In 2006, some 1.2 million dollars worth of bulldozers and graders were donated to the Philippines after the two states inaugurated annual defence meetings in Manila.
China has also agreed to accept defence personnel from the Philippines to attend military schools and universities in an effort to improve understanding of each other's security concerns.
''But, we're not ready yet to hold military drills,'' Santos said, adding the two countries do not have any agreement allowing the exchange of troops for training and war games.
Reuters>