MANILA, Philippines - The United States assured the Philippines that it will help boost its maritime security and surveillance in the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said today that the additional assurance from the US was conveyed by its defense officials to Secretary Albert del Rosario during a meeting at Pentagon in Washington D.C. on Friday.
The DFA said that among the officials who met with Del Rosario at the Pentagon was US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The meeting was held after a joint press briefing between Del Rosario and US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
It said that Gates assured Del Rosario that the US is prepared to help the Philippines strengthen its capability in securing its maritime territory, particularly in the disputed Spratly Islands.
The DFA said that US National Director for Intelligence James Clapper also met with Del Rosario today and pledged to enhance his agency's intelligence sharing with the Philippines, which will heighten the country's maritime situational awareness and surveillance in the disputed territory.
It said that during the meeting, Del Rosario told US defense officials that to complement the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) which the US traditionally turns over to the Philippines, he is exploring an option to access "newer US military assets which the Philippines could acquire quicker but through a deliberate selection and, which hopefully, are more cost-effective."
US Defense Undersecretary for Policy Michelle Fluornoy answered in the affirmative, the DFA said.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=699768&publicationSubCategoryId=63The DFA said that according to Fluornoy, the US "would be happy to have our team look into the full range of (the Philippines') requirements (for maritime security)."
