Japan sees Philippines, Malaysia as ‘like-minded’ nations in military aid plan to counter China

Tokyo’s decision to use international aid for military purposes is a ‘paradigm shift’ but won’t lead to an arms race in Asia, analysts say

The move will not only build up the defence capabilities of Asian nations amid ‘changing security dynamics’, but boost the competitiveness of Japan’s defence sector

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A seaplane of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force during a fleet review at Sagami Bay in November 2022. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:30am, 13 Apr 2023Updated: 10:16am, 13 Apr 2023

Japan’s plan to provide “like-minded” Asian countries with military aid has prompted concerns it may lead to a regional arms race as China grows more aggressive, but analysts say such fears are unjustified because of the limited size of the assistance.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said earlier this month that Tokyo would offer countries financial help to strengthen their defences, in a policy departure from rules forbidding the use of international aid for military purposes.

The Philippines, Malaysia and Fiji are expected to be the first recipients in the Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) scheme, which Matsuno said would be managed separately from the Overseas Development Assistance programme that has funded roads, dams and other civilian infrastructure in the region for decades.

“By enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities, OSA aims to deepen our security cooperation with the countries, to create a desirable security environment for Japan,” Japan’s foreign ministry said.

Raymond Yamamoto, an assistant professor at Denmark’s Aarhus University, said Japan’s move was a new dimension of its foreign assistance.

“I see (this) as a paradigm shift in Japan’s foreign policy,” Yamamoto said. Concerns over whether the move would lead to an arms race were unjustified, he added, because of the limited size and scope of the assistance.

“The 2023 budget envisaged for military assistance is very small, at US$15 million, and Japan has made clear that it will not assist countries acquiring lethal weapons.”