Hanoi (VNA) – Security relations between the Philippines and Japan were further strengthened following the Japanese government’s handover of five coastal surveillance radar systems to the Philippine Department of National Defence on February 11.
The equipment was provided under Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework. The deal was finalised during the November 2023 visit to Manila by then Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, when the two sides exchanged notes for 600 million JPY (nearly 4 million USD) in OSA funding for the provision of coastal radar systems to the Philippine Navy. The project includes radar stations, surveillance and tracking equipment, and other support items designed to enhance coastal monitoring and maritime security operations.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Quezon City, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr expressed confidence that relations between the two countries will continue to grow strongly in the coming years, based on “sincerity and mutual trust.”
For his part, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo described the handover of the five coastal surveillance radar systems as a meaningful milestone, reflecting the deepening relationship between the Philippines and Japan. He noted that the OSA framework demonstrates Japan’s strong commitment to working closely with like-minded partners to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since the launch of the OSA in 2023, the Philippines has been the only country to receive assistance under the framework for three consecutive years, underscoring the high level of trust and strategic significance Japan places on its partnership with the country./.
