Philippines To Receive Defense Equipment From China Under US$14 Million Grant

The Philippines has submitted to China the list of defense equipment it hopes Beijing can supply through a $14-million grant.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana  disclosed another additional procurement demand for $500 million worth of weapons from China, including precision-guided munitions, boats and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle), reported Rappler Tuesday.

Lorenzana said he submitted the list to Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua "three weeks ago". If the Chinese side approves the funding, a representative of the Philippine government will go to China, according to the report. 

"We haven't gone there (to send a representative) because we just gave them the list, so if they can supply the equipment, that's when we will go," said Lorenzana. 

Asked whether the wish list includes precision-guided munitions, Lorenzana said, "Yes." He added, "We asked for many things – boats, drones," said the report.

But in a text response to Rappler later, Lorenzana said the precision-guided munitions are in a list of equipment to be covered by a $500 million soft loan, not the $14 million grant.

According to the report, he specified that the Philippines is asking for precision-guided munitions, not missiles, which are more "sophisticated."

Precision-guided munitions are satellite-guided munitions designed to hit a specific target. Lorenzana said PGMs will "lessen" casualties, compared to the use of unguided bombs, according to the report.