Manila: Philippine President Benigno Aquino asked his counterpart South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak for assistance in the procurement of war materiel to defend the territories claimed by the Philippines in the contested Spratly Archipelago and for a balance of terror with China in the South China Sea (now called West Philippines Sea).
"On defence cooperation, I expressed to President Lee the interest of the Philippines to gain some specific defence articles such as military-grade helicopters, boats and aircrafts. This is in consonance with the upgrading and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Aquino said after a bilateral meeting with Lee. Aquino did not give more details.
Lee did not give a categorical response, but added, "We agreed that we will continue to work together so that we can peacefully resolve this issue according to international rule, norms, and standards."
The Philippine and Vietnam have recently complained about China's alleged flexing of maritime muscle in the South China Sea.
Details of the cooperation between South Korea and the Philippines were to be crafted by both parties in the coming months, a source said, adding that South Korea's military assistance to the Philippines was not part of Lee's agenda in his three-day state visit which began on Sunday.
The Philippines recently bought a refurbished warship from the United States, to protect its oil exploration project in Malampaya, west Palawan, in southwest Philippines which faces the South China Sea.
The Philippines recently complained that China had harass Filipino fishermen, an oil exploration vessel, and for establishing buoys in shoals near Palawan.
Aquino said it was imperative for the Philippines to protect the eight-island Kalayaan (Freedom) island chain it has claimed in the Spratly Archipelago. But the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force have mostly World War II and Vietnam-war vintage warships and planes. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago.
