VICE President Jejomar Binay thanked the United States and Japan on Sunday for promising to donate military equipment to the Philippines to boost its defense capability.
“They promised to give us ships, so thanks to Japan and America,’’ Binay told reporters in Batangas.
He said he would always be open to dealing with countries based on what was best for the Philippines.
“We will always deal and be an ally of countries based on what’s best for our interest,” Binay said.
“Whatever decision a country makes vis-a vis another country, we’ll insert our interest. As a President, I will also be saying that we will deal with any country that will be of help to our interest.”
Binay said the Philippine will always fight for its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.
“What we are doing today is in furtherance of our claim to those areas [in the South China Sea], and that is non-negotiable,” he said.
During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Manila, United States President Barack Obama said he intended to transfer two warships to the Philippine Navy “to bolster the navy’s ability to conduct long-endurance patrols.”
Japanese Deputy Press Secretary Koichi Mizushima said the Philippines and Japan were working on a deal to transfer military equipment to the Philippines.