Japan will provide the Philippine military with a coastal radar system and unmanned aircraft under a security assistance agreement, as Tokyo and Manila strengthen defence cooperation amid growing maritime tensions with China.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Ambassador Katsuro Kitagawa signed the $27 million (4.3 billion yen) agreement in Manila, according to Kyodo News on Monday.
The package includes a coastal radar system for the Philippine Navy and unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance missions by the Philippine Air Force.
First Japanese defence equipment transfer under security framework
The radar system will be supplied under Japan's 2023 Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme. It marks the first transfer of completed Japanese-made defence equipment to a “like-minded” foreign country under the framework, Kyodo reported.
Japan's Foreign Ministry said the project was important for strengthening security cooperation with the Philippines, protecting key maritime routes and contributing to regional peace and stability.
Tokyo and Manila deepen defence ties
Japan and the Philippines, both US allies in Asia, have expanded security cooperation in recent years amid concerns over China's growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
China claims the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and is also involved in territorial disputes with the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea.
