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| KAI F/A-50 Fighter (File Photo) |
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Philippine president Aquino proposes “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Seoul
Last Thursday, Philippine president Benigno Aquino III suggested to his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye that the two countries should form a “comprehensive strategic partnership” during a bilateral meeting in Seoul on the sidelines of the 25thASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit.
Aquino’s proposal is the latest step in a burgeoning partnership between the two countries as the Philippines looks to modernize its military, in part to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine communications secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Aquino’s partnership pitch consisted of a broader appeal to common values and shared threats and challenges, but he declined to divulge more specifics.
However, defense and security issues clearly featured prominently in his visit as they have in the relationship. Coloma said Park reaffirmed South Korea’s defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines, which includes 12 FA-50 fighter jets from state-owned Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as well as donations of a patrol combat corvette, a landing craft utility and 16 rubber boats. The two sides also discussed regional security concerns, including the situation in the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea.
Read the full story at The Diplomat