On Wednesday, February 11, the government of Japan donated five coastal radar systems to the Philippine Navy with the aim of strengthening Manila’s maritime domain awareness amid China’s continued aggressive actions in the region.
The radars in question are part of the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program for fiscal year 2023. The package, valued at 600 million yen, or approximately 228 million Philippine pesos, includes radar units, surveillance and monitoring equipment, communications systems, and other support components.
The delivery comes at a tense geopolitical moment for naval security in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety, and in the West Philippine Sea, the term used by Manila for areas within its Exclusive Economic Zone. In this context, Chinese coast guard and military vessels have been involved in multiple aggressive encounters with Philippine ships. Against this backdrop, the new coastal radars will expand detection coverage and enable real-time monitoring of movements, thereby improving Manila’s response capability.
In this latest instance of cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, Manila will receive OSA assistance for the third consecutive year, making it one of Tokyo’s key partners in maritime security and reflecting both countries’ priority of strengthening Indo-Pacific defense. At the same time, the Philippine Navy has been evaluating other modernization programs, including the possible acquisition of three Abukuma-class destroyer escort vessels that Japan plans to decommission. Manila has also expressed interest in the Mitsubishi F-2 fighters of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force as part of the Philippine Air Force’s combat fleet renewal.
During the handover ceremony, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo emphasized: “The South China Sea is a vital sea lane for many countries through which a large portion of our trade and energy supplies passes. Therefore, the security, openness, and stability of these waters are of direct importance to our own security and prosperity.”
For his part, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. expressed his intention to continue strengthening ties between the two countries, underscoring that “Japan’s approach to its bilateral relations with the Philippines has been rooted in sincerity and fundamental values. […] A partner country like Japan is welcomed with a warm embrace by the Filipino people.”
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