Japan offers defence tools to Philippines amid China’s claims in South, East China seas
- In the US$1.1 million deal, Japan will deliver disaster-relief tools such as jackhammers, sonars and engine cutters
- Japan has been stepping up defence and security cooperation with the Philippines, one of the countries involved in territorial disputes with China
Japan has begun providing the Philippine military with life-saving equipment adopted by the Self-Defence Forces, said defence and foreign ministry officials, making it the first time Tokyo has offered SDF equipment to a foreign armed force using its official development assistance (ODA).
The aid was made possible following Japan’s policy shift in its 2015 foreign aid charter that enabled the government to use ODA to support foreign armed forces in noncombat areas such as disaster relief, infrastructure building and coastguard activities.
Closer defence ties between Tokyo and Manila came on top of a US$100 million agreement in August last year that allows Mitsubishi Electric Corp to export an air radar system to the Philippines armed forces.
The latest deal involves ODA totalling 120 million yen (US$1.1 million) for the delivery of disaster-relief tools including jackhammers, sonars, and engine cutters among others, according to the Defence Ministry.
After the delivery is completed, Ground Self-Defence Force personnel will be sent to train units of the Philippine forces in their use, the ministry said.
