菲律賓把新購軍艦部署在南中國海
菲律賓總統阿基諾星期二說，菲律賓的最新軍艦將會被部署在菲律賓石油勘探船報告與中國發生衝突的幾個區域，以保護菲律賓。阿基諾星期二在與其他高級官員檢閱格雷戈里奧.德爾.皮拉爾號巡邏艦時發表了上述講話。雷戈里奧.德爾.皮拉爾號巡邏艦是一艘退役的美國海岸警衛隊艦艇，五月份被菲律賓購買。這艘服役46年的巡邏艦將是菲律賓海軍戰力最強的艦艇，菲律賓海軍大部分艦艇還是二戰時期的艦艇。
阿基諾說，這艘巡邏艦的一個目的就是將被用來保衛菲律賓在南中國海菲律賓經濟專屬區內勘探工作。他說，這艘船代表了菲律賓已經準備好隨時捍衛自己的利益。他還說，菲律賓政府的國防建設還在繼續。其他在南中國海有主權爭議的幾個國家也都加強了各自的海軍建設。中國在8月進行了改裝航母的海上試航，而越南本星期得到俄製導彈艦艇。越南在今年3月購買了另一艘類似的俄製軍艦。
Philippine President Benigno Aquino says the country's newest warship will be deployed to protect the nation in areas where oil exploration vessels have reported run-ins with . Aquino spoke Tuesday as he and other top officials inspected the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard cutter acquired by the Philippines navy in May. The 46-year-old ship will be the most capable vessel in a fleet made up of mostly World War II-era ships.
Mr. Aquino said the ship will be used, among other purposes, to guard exploration efforts in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. He said the ship represents the nation's readiness to defend its interests, and that his government's defense build-up will r countries with competing claims in the South China Sea are also strengthening their navies. China this month conducted sea trials of a refitted aircraft carrier, while Vietnam this week took ownership of a Russian-made guided missile warship. Vietnam acquired a similar Russian-made ship in March.
