Japan and the Philippines signed a 900 million yen ($6 million) grant agreement on Thursday under Tokyo’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme to build facilities for small naval boats, as the two partners deepen security ties focused on key regional sea lanes.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro signed and exchanged notes in Manila for the FY2025 OSA project, Japan’s foreign ministry said.
The project will construct boathouses and slipways for rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) for the Philippine Navy, supporting more efficient management and operations, including RHIBs to be provided under an earlier OSA project.
Tokyo said the Philippines sits astride important sea lanes including the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait and is a strategic partner as Japan promotes a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
Japan said the initiative was the first infrastructure project under OSA and would help enhance the Philippine Navy’s maritime domain awareness and surveillance capabilities.
OSA is Japan’s grant framework for providing defence-related equipment and infrastructure support to partner countries’ armed forces and related agencies, aimed at strengthening deterrence and contributing to international peace and security.
Business News Asia
