MANILA: The Philippines said yesterday it is purchasing French Navy vessels to boost its forces in the South China Sea where it has an ongoing territorial dispute with China.
The 26-year-old La Tapageuse vessel is likely to be the first of several French ships that will be acquired by the coastguard.
The 54.8-metre patrol ship will cost €6m ($7.97m) and is due to arrive in the country by April next year, a coastguard statement said. The ship, which is armed with two cannon and two machine-guns, was inspected before acquisition and is good for 20 more years of service, the coastguard said. “This French vessel is multi-functional and it would be a major contribution to our fleet, particularly in our search and rescue operations,” coastguard chief Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena was quoted as saying in the statement. Manila is also “finalising” with the French government the purchase of four brand-new 24-metre and one 82-metre multipurpose vessels, Isorena said. AFP
