Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Tuesday that the Philippine Army wants to buy 74,000 M-16 assault rifles with accessories from the US, following President Duterte's 180-degree stance about not purchasing defense equipment from the West.
Locsin made the request to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell on Tuesday who was in Manila for the 8th US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, reported Philstar Global.
"I told him that to concretize words of US-Phl amity into action is to sell us what Pompeo was told we need and want to buy 74,000 brand new M16s – w/3 clips each. And Duterte will finish all security threats to our democracy. Not a gift; we will pay. We're waiting," Locsin said on Twitter.
This was Stilwell's first trip to the region since becoming Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs last month. He discussed strengthening the two countries' economic and defensive ties and promoting regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including free and unobstructed access to waters in the South China Sea.
"As a treaty ally, our partnership with the Philippines is critical for realizing our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, with sovereign thriving nations," Stilwell said in a statement, adding that a strong bilateral alliance "deters aggression and promotes regional stability."
Last month Duterte had a change of heart in purchasing American defense equipment since he said he now likes President Trump.
More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...assault-rifles
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by brushfire
Connect With Us