CHINA recently allocated P1-billion worth of military assistance to the Philippines, with the initial set costing P614 million delivered a week ago.
Ambassador Huang Xilian said the equipment, mostly composed of vehicles, would be formally turned over next month.
“The first batch of the military equipment worth RMB76 million arrived in Manila on January 16, including rescue and relief equipment, which will be formally turned over to the [Department of National Defense] and [the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)] in February,” Huang said in a statement on Saturday. “The second batch worth RMB54 million will be delivered on a later date.”
The donation was part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2019 commitment to assist and support the Philippine government in its counternarcotics and counterterrorism campaigns.
In 2020 Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe formally pledged military donations to the country worth RMB130 million (P1 billion).
“I hope [they would play a role in maintaining peace and fighting terrorism campaign, as well as providing humanitarian assistance and disaster-response mission following the ravage of] Typhoon Odette,” the Chinese envoy further stated.
“China will continue to support the Philippines’s disaster-relief and recovery efforts, [as well as the AFP’s] capability-building to the best of its ability,” he added. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA