Japan has finalized a $27 million defense assistance package with the Philippines to supply coastal radar equipment and surveillance drones, marking a key milestone in security ties between the two Asian nations as maritime tensions with China continue to rise.
The agreement, valued at 4.3 billion yen ($27 million), was signed in Manila by Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Ambassador Katsuro Kitagawa, following reports from Kyodo News on Monday. Under the deal, the Philippine Navy will be equipped with a coastal radar system, while the Philippine Air Force will receive unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial surveillance missions.
The radar package is being delivered under Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework, which was established in 2023. The transaction marks the first transfer of completed Japanese-manufactured military equipment to a foreign partner designated as "like-minded" under the program.
According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, the project plays a critical role in strengthening bilateral security cooperation with Manila, securing vital maritime trade routes, and promoting overall regional peace and stability.
Both Japan and the Philippines are key United States allies in Asia that have expanded their mutual defense collaboration amid concerns over China's growing military influence in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing asserts claims over the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and remains involved in ongoing territorial disputes with the Philippines and other neighboring nations in the South China Sea.
