RP defense officials to China, Vietnam

RP defense officials to China, Vietnam

MANILA (AP): Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado will
visit China and military chief Gen. Angelo Reyes will travel to
Vietnam for talks that will likely touch on the disputed Spratly
islands, officials said on Wednesday.

Mercado said he would leave on Friday for a three day stay in
Beijing to meet his Chinese counterpart to discuss common defense
concerns that may include the dispute over the islands in the
South China Sea.

China, the Philippines and Vietnam, along with Brunei,
Malaysia and Taiwan, have conflicting claims on the Spratlys, a
chain of islands, atolls and reefs believed to be sitting atop
vast deposits of oil and gas.

The disputes have periodically strained diplomatic relations.
Mercado will also take up possible Chinese participation in a
Philippine government program to modernize its military, one of
Asia's most ill-equipped.