Japan Donates Five Coastal Radar Systems to the Philippine Navy

On Wednesday 11 February, the Japanese government donated five coastal radar systems to the Philippine Navy, aiming to strengthen Manila’s maritime domain awareness amid China’s continuing aggressive actions in the region.

Japan’s coastal radar systems for the Philippine Navy

The radars are provided under the 2023 fiscal-year Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme. Valued at 600 million yen, or roughly 228 million Philippine pesos, the package comprises radar units, surveillance and monitoring equipment, communications systems, and other supporting components.

The handover comes at a geopolitically fraught time for naval security in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims in its entirety, and in the West Philippine Sea, the term used by the Philippines for waters within its Exclusive Economic Zone. Chinese coastguard and military vessels have repeatedly made aggressive approaches towards Philippine vessels in these areas. The new coastal radars will extend detection coverage and enable movements to be tracked in real time, improving Manila’s ability to respond.

Japan–Philippines naval security cooperation

This latest instance of cooperation means the Philippines will receive OSA for a third consecutive year. It reinforces Manila’s position as one of Tokyo’s principal naval security partners and reflects both countries’ priority of strengthening Indo-Pacific defence.

The Philippine Navy has also been assessing further modernisation initiatives, including the potential purchase of three Abukuma-class destroyers that Japan is due to retire. It has additionally expressed interest in Mitsubishi F-2 fighter aircraft operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, as part of the Philippine Air Force’s combat fleet renewal.

At the handover ceremony, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo stressed: “The South China Sea is a vital sea lane for many countries, through which a large part of our trade and energy supplies passes. Therefore, the security, openness and stability of these waters are of direct importance to our own security and prosperity.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr expressed his intention to continue deepening the relationship between the two countries, emphasising that “Japan’s approach to its bilateral relations with the Philippines has been rooted in sincerity and core values. […] a partner country like Japan is welcomed with a warm embrace by the Filipino people.”