Japan to provide defense equipment to Philippines, Indonesia

Japan plans to provide defense equipment to the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti under its official security assistance (OSA) program for the armed forces of like-minded countries that share values, a government source confirmed on November 30.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya (left) hands over documents on Manila's purchase of the TPS-P14ME Mobile Air Surveillance System to Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (second from left) in Manila, April 29, 2024. (Source: Benar News)

According to the source, the four countries have been identified as recipients of OSA grant aid in fiscal 2024, which runs through March 2025, with an allocation of 5 billion yen ($33 million) planned by Japan in the initial budget for the current fiscal year.

The source also said that Japan plans to provide radar to the Philippines to help the Southeast Asian country cope with China's expanding military presence in the South China Sea.

Tokyo launched the OSA program in April 2023 to help recipient countries improve their defense capabilities amid security concerns such as China's growing military presence in the Asia- Pacific region.

Last year, the Japanese government decided to provide a coastal surveillance radar system to the Philippines under the OSA grant program. The Philippines was also included in the list of OSA recipient countries in fiscal 2023 along with Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhat-ban-cung-cap-thiet-bi-quoc-phong-cho-philippines-indonesia-295694.html