Despite disagreements in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND), China has donated over a billion pesos worth of equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In 2021 alone, the Philippines experienced different threats from China within the country’s EEZ. The first batch of military equipment worth RMB 76 million arrived in Manila on 16 January 2022. The second batch of donations worth P437 million (54 Chinese Yuan Renminbi) will be delivered on a later date.
The donation comprises various military equipment such rescue and relief equipment, drone systems, detectors, water purification vehicles, ambulances, firetrucks, xray machines, EOD robots, bomb disposal suits and transport vehicles; and engineering equipment such as backhoes, dumptrucks, forklifts, and earthmovers. The equipment will be formally turned over to the DND and AFP next month. A second batch worth RMB 54 million will be delivered on a later date.
