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South Korea, Philippines strengthen defense relationship

A goodwill visit September 2-4, 2019, by a pair of Republic of Korea (ROK) warships to the Philippines signaled the growing defense ties between the two countries. The event was the latest overture in a relationship highlighted by the August 2019 donation of an anti-submarine patrol vessel from Seoul to Manila and the earlier sale of South Korean-made, FA-50 combat jets to the island nation.

The commander of the Philippine Navy’s Littoral Combat Force, Commodore Rey dela Cruz, described the visit of ROK’s destroyer Munmu the Great (DDH-976) and fast combat support ship Hwacheon (AOE-59) as underscoring “the continuing efforts of the Philippines and [South] Korea to strengthen the relationship between our governments and navies,” reported the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Manila’s government news wire.

The officers and crews of the two ROK vessels joined in confidence-building activities with Philippine Navy personnel, including shipboard tours, sports and cultural events, and a passing exercise, PNA added.

The BRP Conrado Yap, pictured, arrived in Manila on August 20, 2019. The ship is a Pohang-class patrol combat corvette made in South Korea and equipped for anti-submarine warfare, according to PNA. The donated vessel is named after Conrado Yap, a Philippine serviceman who served with the Philippine Expeditionary Forces in the Korean War of the early 1950s, explained Han Dong-Man, Seoul’s ambassador to Manila, in an opinion article in the Philippine Starnewspaper on September 5, 2019.

The ship will bolster the Philippine Navy’s anti-vessel, anti-submarine and anti-air capabilities, Han stated. The craft is “unmatched in weapons capabilities and speed” and includes radar and sonar surveillance systems, two Oto Melara 76 mm automatic guns, two Oto Breda 40 mm light cannons, and two triple torpedo tubes.

“With a deep sense of gratitude,” Han wrote, “the Korean government has been trying to repay the noble sacrifice of the members of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea in many different ways as a token of our appreciation for the sacrifice and devotion to defend Korea during the Korean War.”

The Philippine Navy hopes to secure two more Pohang-class vessels from Seoul, Philippine Navy spokesman Capt. Henry Quinto told PNA, “to ensure that one ship is always on patrol while one is to undergo training with its crew and in reserve.”

Three frigates owned by the Philippine Navy will soon be upgraded by an ROK shipyard, Han stated, in accordance with a contract signed August 27, 2019. The Del Pilar class of offshore patrol vessels were previously employed by the U.S. Coast Guard as Hamilton-class high endurance cutters.

The frigates deal has roots in a summit involving the two countries’ defense ministers held in Seoul in April 2018 where the two sides pledged to promote partnerships in arms development, PNA reported.

The Philippine Air Force’s group of ROK-built FA-50PH jet fighters is credited with helping to secure victory over the Islamic state-affiliated Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) during the five-month siege of the Southern Philippine city of Marawi 2017. Retired Gen. Carlito Galvez, then-Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of staff, called the jets a “game changer” that prevented greater loss of life among Philippine ground forces in the struggle to liberate the city from ASG.

The 12 FA-50s were manufactured by ROK’s Korea Aerospace Industries Co., according to Yonhap, Seoul’s government-affiliated news agency. The U.S. $420 million order was fulfilled in July 2017. Originally designed as a trainer jet, it was upgraded to serve as a light fighter.

In addition to the transfer of defense assets, the 2019 Philippines-Korea Defense Industry Cooperation Seminar was held in Manila on August 28, 2019, to bring “defense partnership up to the next level,” Han wrote.

Felix Kim is a FORUM contributor reporting from Seoul, South Korea.

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