S. Korea to donate warship to Philippines amid sea tensions

South Korea will donate a corvette warship to the poorly-equipped Philippine navy. The “Pohang-class corvette” will be decommissioned by the end of the year and donated to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement issued this week. It was unclear if the donation would include the ship’s weapons systems. The gift follows South Korea’s recent donation of a landing craft and 16 rubber boats to the Philippines.

South Korea’s gesture is a small token compared with the great contribution of Filipino troops during the Korean War.

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Kwang-jin

The donation comes as the Philippines is facing increasing pressure from China over their conflicting claims to the South China Sea. China claims most of South China Sea even up to the coasts of its neighbours and the Philippines has increasingly accused its larger neighbour of using bullying tactics to enforce its claim. The Philippines, which has one of the most poorly-armed militaries in the region, has been upgrading its defence capabilities in recent years.

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