Ramos wants modern military

Ramos wants modern military

BAGUIO, Philippines (Reuter): President Fidel Ramos on Saturday said the Philippines needs a modern military to protect and nurture the economic development of the southeast Asian country.

Ramos said in a speech before 213 graduating cadets at the Philippine Military Academy in the northern city of Baguio the army must shift to the role of defending the nation from external foes after the end of internal security threats.

"We need a truly professional armed forces, a modern armed forces," he said. "(We need) an armed forces capable of fulfilling its combat mission and its nation-building duties."

The Philippine leader recently signed a law to modernize the country's antiquated military hardware after a row erupted with China when Beijing sent troops to occupy a disputed reef in the Spratly islands also claimed by Manila.

Most of the ships in the Philippine navy were given by the United States and date back to Second World War. The country's air force has only two aging 30-year-old F-5 planes.

The Spratly islands in the South China Sea, which is believed to contain rich deposits of oil and gas, is claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.