Philippine navy seeks ‘dream fleet’ in South China Sea, buys two South Korean warships to ramp up maritime defences

The Philippines signed a deal with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries to buy two corvettes to form part of the navy’s dream fleet and to increase its defence capabilities amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.While the navy’s long-delayed plan to modernise the force called for the addition of 10 missile-capable corvettes by 2023, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Colonel Ramon Zagala said that the two purpose-built small warships “will definitely improve the navy’s capability…