Almost a year has passed since Lyons declared that aside from strengthening its relations with ASEAN, the US must use the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty to strengthen its position on the issue of the South China Sea. Lyons asserted that in addition to selling surplus military equipment to the Philippines, the US should likewise consider leasing out a squadron of F-16 airplanes along with T-28 jet trainers, helicopters, a C-12 twin-engine aircraft that could be used for counterinsurgency and ocean patrols and two FFG-7 warships.
Iginiit ni Lyons na bukod sa pagbebenta sa Pilipinas ng pinaglumaang mga kagamitang pandigma, dapat ikonsidera rin ng US ang pagpapaupa ng isang iskwadron ng eroplanong F-16 kasama ng mga T-38 jet trainer, mga helikopter, isang C-12 twin-engine aircraft na maaaring gamitin para sa counterinsurgency at pagpapatrolya sa dagat at dalawang FFG-7 na barkong pandigma.