Philippines, Vietnam get warships in China spat

Associated Press ^ | August 23, 2011 | HRVOJE HRANJSKI

[sukhoi-30mki]

Philippines, Vietnam get warships in China spat

By HRVOJE HRANJSKI, Associated Press

The Philippines and Vietnam each received warships Tuesday to beef up their navies as they face tensions with China over disputed islands, raising the prospect of a deepening arms race in the South China Sea.

The two Southeast Asian nations also are shopping for additional military assets, including submarines for Vietnam and air defense radars for the Philippines, as the impoverished nations try to gain leverage with their huge northern neighbor while staying within their budgets.

The Philippines has turned to second-hand U.S. hardware: A decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard cutter was formally unveiled Tuesday in Manila port as the most modern vessel in the dilapitated Philippine fleet. Vietnam, meanwhile, received its second, brand new Russian-made guided missile cruiser in the Cam Ranh naval port on Monday, state media reported.

The two countries are at loggerheads with China over disputed Spratly and Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims in its entirety on historical grounds.

Authorities in Manila and Hanoi have repeatedly accused Chinese vessels this year of interfering with their oil and gas explorations and harassing fishermen within their 200 nautical mile (370 kilometer) exclusive economic zones.

Beijing has named the South Ch

[sukhoi-30mki]

Vietnam's new Gepard class light frigate

[ken21]

if they thought the americans were imperialists,

they’ll love the chicoms.

[cookcounty]

Uh-oh. Tonkin Gulf II?

[skeeter]

Soon China will claim Hawaii and the US west coast on ‘historical grounds’.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

There’s something different. An allie who is willing to spend on their own defense and not entirely depend on the United States....

[Oztrich Boy]

Vietnam may have common interests with the US but is not really an ally.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Vietnam may have common interests with the US but is not really an ally."

I was referring to the Phillipines. I would call Vietnam a trading partner, that's it.

[ASA Vet]

PI Ping

[BTCM]

If they maintain this ship like the navy we gave them they will have pigs, goats chickens and family living aboard a gutted hull that has been stripped and sold to line corrupt pockets!

[Mr. Jazzy]

Good! A little Red on Red battle is a good thing! I hope they blow the livin’ dog squeeze out of each other!

[Oztrich Boy]

I was referring to the Phillipines

Well, bless their hearts. A 44 year old OPV isn't likely to change the balance of East Pacific naval power.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

Not change the balance of power. But if you read the article, they got that and are planning on buying more stuff.

[NeverForgetBataan]

“we’re gonna need a bigger boat....”

[knarf]

The Philippines have kept the dollar's value during all of this turmoil in the US, indicating their faith in us as an ally and a partner.

For the US to give them a glorified PT boat is an insult.

[SunkenCiv]

Oh, I’m sure this will end well. /s

Thanks sukhoi-30mki.