Chinese shipbuilder touts warships amid push to expand arms sales in Southeast Asia
- Executive from state-owned CSIC meets defence officials from the Philippines and Indonesia in a week-long tour
- Company launches the second of four patrol vessels being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy
A Chinese state-owned shipbuilder is promoting its warships in Southeast Asia as part of Beijing’s increased efforts to expand arms sales in the region.
As China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) launched a second littoral mission ship – a large patrol vessel – for the Royal Malaysian Navy at its shipyard in central China last week, the company’s deputy general manager Wu Xiaoguang went on a week-long tour.
Wu visited the Philippines and Indonesia, meeting defence officials from the two countries, the company said in a statement titled, “Put [China’s] ‘going out’ strategy into practice and make great efforts to expand arms sales”.
According to the statement, Wu expressed an interest in cooperating with the Philippine navy when he met Jesus Avilla, the country’s assistant defence secretary.
In Indonesia, Wu discussed deepening the relationship with the defence ministry and navy during a meeting with a special envoy of the defence minister.