US pledges USD 259mn to SE Asian nations for maritime security

The US said today it would provide USD 259 million to its Southeast Asian allies for maritime security, as regional tensions rise over Chinese island-building in the South China Sea.

In a statement coinciding with a visit by US President Barack Obama to the Philippines, the White House said it would commit USD 119 million in the 2015 financial year, with another USD 140 million earmarked for the following year.