Philippines Buys 2 Warships To Defend Itself In Heavily Militarized South China Sea

The Philippines has decided to buy two warships to boost its navy, amid increasing militarization in the South China Sea. Manila's latest move comes as the country battles frequent threats from its giant neighbor China.

Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday that two new warships have been ordered from South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HII) as part of a deal valued at $554 million, reported Channel News Asia.

"This project will give the Philippine Navy two modern corvettes that are capable of anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare missions," Lorenzana said in Manila.

As per reports, the two corvettes will be delivered by 2026. "These acquisitions will bolster the nation’s naval capability. We have already come a long way in our modernization, and with this additional acquisition, we are steps closer to a more capable fleet," Lorenzana said.

Corvettes and frigates are small and fast warships mainly used to protect other vessels from attack. Each vessel weighs 3,200 tons and measures 116 meters long. They will be able to reach a maximum speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots, with a range of 4,500 nautical miles.

Besides, the corvettes will also have eight anti-ship missile launchers, a 35-mm close-in weapon system, a 76-mm main gun, two three-tube torpedo launchers, and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

The Philippine Navy had recently acquired two frigates from the South Korean company in a deal signed five years ago. Manila will also have a decommissioned Pohang class corvette from the South Korean Navy refurbished and delivered to it next year.

To defend itself from Chinese belligerence, Manila has also acquired two former U.S. Coast Guard cutters and three landing craft from Australia.

Over the last year, the Philippines has been at the receiving end of Chinese belligerence. The relations between the two nations turned frosty after Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted near the Whitsun Reef, which comes under the Exclusive Economic Zone of Manila.

However, the latest provocation happened after Chinese coastguard ships fired water cannons at the Philippines' supply ships.

The incident happened near Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) on Nov. 16. The Philippine vessels were taking food supplies to military personnel stationed nearby when the attack happened. Following this, the ships were forced to abandon the mission.

China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea, with competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.