Japan hands over five coastal radar systems to Philippines

MANILA, February 12 ------ The Department of National Defense said Japan handed over five coastal radar systems to the Philippines, which it said would strengthen the country’s maritime domain awareness and coastal defense capabilities.

Photos released by the department showed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, and other security officials at the ceremonial handover. “The milestone marks a significant step in strengthening the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness and coastal defense capabilities,” the DND said.

The coastal radar systems, which arrived in the country on January 14, were among those provided through Japan’s first Official Security Assistance (OSA) project. Tokyo’s recently created grant scheme focuses on military and other defense-related transfers to its partners and allies across the Indo-Pacific. “The Philippines faces important sea lanes including the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait and plays an important role in regional security,” read a statement from the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines on the defense aid grant. “Moreover, the Philippines is a strategic partner with which Japan is further strengthening relations towards realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” it added.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com