WASHINGTON: US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that the United States is studying how it can offer the Philippines military equipment to defend itself, amid tension with China.
The two countries are starting "to determine what are the additional assets that the Philippines needs and how we can best provide those," Clinton said at a press conference with Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario.
Del Rosario said earlier that his country hoped to lease naval equipment from the United States, calling for a "reset" in the two nations' alliance in the face of rising friction at sea with China.
Clinton said del Rosario will meet later with US defense secretary Robert Gates and other Pentagon officials as the United States seeks to "closely coordinate" with the Philippines.
"We are determined and committed to supporting the defense of the Philippines," the chief US diplomat said.
"And that means trying to find ways of providing affordable material and equipment that will assist the Philippines military to take the steps necessary to defend itself," she said.
The two countries are starting "to determine what are the additional assets that the Philippines needs and how we can best provide those," Clinton said at a press conference with Philippine foreign secretary Albert del Rosario.
Del Rosario said earlier that his country hoped to lease naval equipment from the United States, calling for a "reset" in the two nations' alliance in the face of rising friction at sea with China.
Clinton said del Rosario will meet later with US defense secretary Robert Gates and other Pentagon officials as the United States seeks to "closely coordinate" with the Philippines.
"We are determined and committed to supporting the defense of the Philippines," the chief US diplomat said.
"And that means trying to find ways of providing affordable material and equipment that will assist the Philippines military to take the steps necessary to defend itself," she said.
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