US gives Philippines ‘force multiplier’ drones to counter Beijing in South China Sea

Washington’s provision of advanced boat drones to Manila will act as “a force multiplier” for the Philippine Navy, analysts say, allowing the US to enhance its ally’s surveillance and operational capabilities in the South China Sea while avoiding direct provocations that could escalate Beijing’s territorial challenges.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US government has given the Philippine Navy an undisclosed number of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for its operations in the West Philippine Sea – Manila’s term for the parts of the South China Sea that lie within its exclusive economic zone and the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys – on Tuesday during a two-day visit to the Philippines.

He promised that “many more” would be delivered before the end of the Biden administration.

“We expect to see many more platforms like this delivered with the US$500M in foreign military financing that I announced during my visit in July, to help ensure that the Philippines has the capabilities and means to defend its rights and its sovereignty throughout its exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” Austin said during a press conference with Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr in Puerto Princesa, Palawan – a province facing the West Philippine Sea that hosts a joint US-Philippine military facility.

Austin reiterated that the US was “profoundly committed to the defence of the Philippines” and its Mutual Defence Treaty with Manila “applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, aircraft or public vessels, including our coastguards, anywhere in the South China Sea.”