Ramos wants modern military<\/p>\n
BAGUIO, Philippines (Reuter): President Fidel Ramos on
\nSaturday said the Philippines needs a modern military to protect
\nand nurture the economic development of the southeast Asian
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Ramos said in a speech before 213 graduating cadets at the
\nPhilippine Military Academy in the northern city of Baguio the
\narmy must shift to the role of defending the nation from external
\nfoes after the end of internal security threats.<\/p>\n
\"We need a truly professional armed forces, a modern armed
\nforces,\" he said. \"(We need) an armed forces capable of
\nfulfilling its combat mission and its nation-building duties.\"<\/p>\n
The Philippine leader recently signed a law to modernize the
\ncountry's antiquated military hardware after a row erupted with
\nChina when Beijing sent troops to occupy a disputed reef in the
\nSpratly islands also claimed by Manila.<\/p>\n
Most of the ships in the Philippine navy were given by the
\nUnited States and date back to Second World War. The country's
\nair force has only two aging 30-year-old F-5 planes.<\/p>\n
The Spratly islands in the South China Sea, which is believed
\nto contain rich deposits of oil and gas, is claimed in whole or
\nin part by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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