Allies from the ‘First World’ continue to offer Manila material and moral support amid Beijing’s expansionist ambitions, leading to increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which China claims as its own.
On Thursday, Japan committed to providing the Philippines with P611 million worth of defense equipment to ramp up the country’s capabilities “to deter threats to peace, stability, and security” in the Indo-Pacific region.
The defense package highlights Japan’s commitment to its strategic partnership with the Philippines as both countries struggle to keep their giant neighbor at bay.
The funding, which will be drawn from Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) for the fiscal year 2024 to March 2025, includes surveillance radar systems for the Philippine Air Force as well as rigid-hulled inflatable boats, coastal radar system equipment, and aircraft automatic identification systems for the Philippine Navy.
“We sincerely hope that the provision of these items will be of great use for our friends facing strategic challenges,” Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said.
The Japanese envoy underscored the Philippines’ strategic location and its important role in regional security during the signing and exchange of notes with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.
“As we strengthen our support towards the Philippines, we also hope to contribute to the security and stability of the region —ultimately driving towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Kazuya said.
He emphasized the importance of alliances to deter an aggressive China.
“All of these elements are aimed at safeguarding Philippine sovereignty and securing national territory through improving its Maritime Domain Awareness capabilities and monitoring and surveillance capabilities,” Kazuya said.
“The collaborative spirit embodied in this effort highlights Japan’s determination to ensure that peace and prosperity continue to thrive across the region and beyond for generations to come,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the latest assistance from Tokyo reflects the two countries’ shared commitment to maritime stability and regional peace.
“It will support the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines’ efforts in securing the Philippines and improving the country’s capabilities to deter threats to peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region,” the department said in a statement.
Japan’s defense funding comes on the heels of a similar move by the United States, which recently provided an additional $500 million to boost the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) capabilities.
This was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during their Manila visit earlier this year.
As this developed, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) formally lodged the latest in a long line of protests against China’s maritime aggression.
This time, after the China Coast Guard (CCG) tried to chase away a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship from the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) by blasting it with water cannons before ramming it deliberately.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said this latest diplomatic note brings the total notes verbales against Beijing’s activities in the West Philippine Sea to 60 this year.
For its part, the European Union (EU) said called out China’s recent acts, saying these violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Very concerned by China’s aggressive actions against Philippine government vessels near Scarborough Shoal and Sabina Shoal on 4 December,” EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Such behaviour clearly runs counter the UNCLOS and international maritime safety regulations,” he added.
New Zealand, which has participated in joint maritime drills in the WPS, said China’s actions and presence of the latter’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships during the incident were “deeply worrying.”
“These latest dangerous actions by the Chinese Coast Guard towards the Philippines are deeply worrying, as is the presence of PLAN vessels. Water cannons and contact between vessels risk safety at sea and threaten regional stability and international law,” the New Zealand Embassy in Manila said.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson was among the first to condemn Beijing for its latest act of aggression, saying on X, “The PRC’s [People’s Republic of China] unlawful use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers disrupted a Philippine maritime operation on December 4, putting lives at risk.”
