Philippines to Buy Five Patrol Boats From Japan Amid Sea Tension

The Philippines is beefing up its naval resources as tensions escalate with China over the South China Sea. 

Photographer: Lisa Marie David/Bloomberg
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The Philippines will purchase five patrol vessels from Japan amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.

The deal will be financed through a Japanese loan worth about 23.9 billion pesos ($415 million) and was signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement on its website Friday.