China offers two ships to F-FDTL

The State Secretary for Defense - Julio Tomas Pinto

*Televizaun Timor-Leste, October 31, 2013 language source: Tetun

The Government of China has officially handed over two mini warships to the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) to be used for doing patrol in the northern coast of Timor-Leste. 

Speaking to journalists, State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto said the Chinese Government provided the two ships to F-FDTL as it was asked by the Timorese Government. 

”We discussed with the president of the republic on how China can help us as every year it always allocates money for us,” Pinto said. 

Pinto affirmed that, the Government asked many things, but the Chinese Government decided to provide Timor- Leste with two mini warships.