Philippine president won't back down from territorial dispute with China, to bolster military

Hundreds of protesters march towards the Philippine Congress to coincide with the third State of the Nation address of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Monday, July 23, 2012 at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said Monday that the Philippines won't back down from a South China Sea dispute with China and that his country's military would soon get dozens of new aircraft and ships for maritime defence.

Aquino announced during his annual state of the nation address that more than 40 military aircraft — from two newly refurbished C-130 cargo planes to attack helicopters — along with other weapons would be delivered in the next two years to bolster Philippine military muscle amid renewed territorial conflicts in the South China Sea.