US announces $500 million in military aid to Philippines

A mark of American support for Manila against China. The United States will provide military aid”of 500 million dollars” in the Phillippines “to reinforce [leur] “security collaboration”announced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, July 30, at a press conference in Manila. This envelope, intended to modernize the armed forces and the Philippine coast guard, is only“once in a generation”he added. It is part of a $2 billion aid package allocated in April to the region’s territories by the United States House of Representatives.

During the visit, Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has strongly opposed China’s activities in the South China Sea. Marcos said: “very happy” of the dialogue established between the United States and the Philippines. “We are truly grateful for this partnership”declared the head of American diplomacy.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands near the coasts of several neighboring countries, despite a 2016 international court ruling. The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim several reefs and islets in the sea, some areas of which may hold rich oil reserves.