Chiz: More military aid from US will not provoke China

FILE: Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero. (Photo: Chiz Escudero/Facebook)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday dismissed concerns about provoking tensions with China after the United States decided to allocate an additional USD500 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines.

“I do not think this will provoke or agitate China because strengthening one’s own military, like them and most countries, in order to keep the peace, is the right and obligation of every country,” Escudero said in a statement.

The Senate President expressed his gratitude for the unprecedented assistance and emphasized the importance of the US-Philippines partnership in maintaining peace, and modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard.

“This shows that we (the US and the Philippines) are indeed friends and, more importantly, equal partners in maintaining peace, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based approach to differences and disagreements,” Escudero said.

The funding announcement was made during the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Manila, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III on the US side, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on the Philippine side, highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between the two nations.