WASHINGTON — On the eve of a trilateral summit between the United States, Japan and the Philippines, two prominent US senators on Wednesday introduced a bipartisan bill to provide Manila with $2.5 billion to boost its defenses against Chinese pressure.
The bill, put forward by Republican Bill Hagerty, a former ambassador to Japan, and Democrat Tim Kaine, authorizes $500 million a year in Foreign Military Financing grant assistance to the Philippines over the five fiscal years to 2029.The Philippines, a long term ally of the United States, has become increasingly important strategically in US and Japanese efforts to push back against China and has been in need of funding to modernize its long-neglected armed forces.
In a statement shared with Reuters, Hagerty said it was "critical" to deepen cooperation with the Philippines at a time of "Communist China's growing aggression in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea."Kaine echoed this, saying it was "pivotal that the people of the Philippines have the resources and support they need in the face of those threats.
South China Sea West Philippine Sea
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