A proposed upgrade to the Philippine navy, which lags behind its Asian peers, will help the country fend off Muslim rebels, foreign fishing boats and ships from China, experts in the region say.

The Philippines will keep trying to avoid upsets with China, said Alan Chong, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Beijing gives Manila aid and investment for infrastructure renewal. China would still have more firepower even after the Philippine navy modernizes, he added.

“Even if tomorrow the United States sells the Philippine navy its latest destroyers, there’s no way the Philippines can fend off a determined Chinese for defense of the islands,” Chong said.