The coastal radar systems were part of Japan’s Official Security Assistance programme for fiscal year 2023, the year the grant framework for like-minded countries was launched.
“The South China Sea is a vital sea lane for many countries through which a large portion of our trade and energy supplies pass. Safety, openness, and stability of these waters are therefore of direct importance to our own security and prosperity,” Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo said during the handover ceremony. He added that enhancing the Philippine Navy’s maritime capabilities would contribute to both regional and global stability, without naming China, which claims most of the South China Sea.
The radar package, worth JPY 600 million (around P228 million), includes radar units, surveillance and monitoring equipment, communications systems, and other support components. Once operational, the systems are expected to significantly improve the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness and monitoring capacity.
The Philippines is the only nation to receive OSA support for three consecutive years. Under the programme, it is also set to receive JPY 900 million worth of rigid-hulled inflatable boats, while Japan will fund related infrastructure projects this year.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. thanked the Japanese government, saying the partnership was built on shared values and sincerity.
Last month, the two countries also signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, supporting the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in 2024, allowing tax-free exchange of supplies and services during joint military exercises.
