Aquino thanks Obama for military assistance

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Photo from the Malacañang Photo Bureau/Roberto Viñas)

MANILA – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III thanked the United States (US) for its military assistance to the Philippines amid continuing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

“We recognize, with the deepest appreciation, the significant contribution to our efforts by the United States—contributions that help us ensure that we can ably respond to current security challenges, particularly in the area of maritime security and maritime domain awareness,” Aquino said in a press briefing in Manila.

Aquino mentioned that the US provided ‘significant assistance,’ which reports claimed to be around $20 million, in the construction of the National Coast Watch Center completed last year.

With regards to the continued tension in the contested waters, both the US and the Philippines called on claimants to follow the international law and to resolve the issue in a diplomatic way.

“I take this opportunity to reiterate the Philippines’ view that the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea must be continuously upheld, consistent with international law,” Aquino said.