20 December 2016•Update: 20 December 2016
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
China is to turn over 100 million Yuan ($14.4 million) in defense assets to the Philippines, a top defense official said Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that during a meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and China's ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, items such as small arms, boats, and night vision goggles were discussed.
"He [Jinhua] asked if we have requirements that they can provide," Rappler quoted Lorenzana as telling reporters in Manila, adding that they have a combined worth of around 100 million Yuan.
"We have a list. We already have it. We will see which equipment in the list will be useful to us. I think we can get some small arms, a number of fast boats, and some night vision goggles. It's not much, $14.4 million worth," the defense chief added.
Lorenzana said they would finalize the list before year end and then submit it to the Chinese embassy. A technical working group from the Philippines will be sent to China to look at the equipment.
The equipment should be expected in the first half of 2017, Lorenzana said, adding that China had also committed to giving the military a soft loan for some items needed in its fight against terrorism and illegal drugs.
"They want to help us fight terrorism and drugs. They will help the president," Rappler reported Lorenzana said as saying.
"He told the president last night: 'I know your problems in terrorism. I know your problems in drugs. We would like to help you'."
The defense secretary said that the duo had not discussed issues concerning the South China Sea, where China's installation of weapons on artificial islands and its seizure of a US Navy underwater drone has met international derision.
He added that China has also offered to build a drug rehabilitation center in Mindanao.
