Japan Provides $27 Million Defense Grant to Philippines
Japan and the Philippines signed a ¥4.3 billion agreement to provide coastal radar systems and surveillance drones to enhance maritime security in the South China Sea.
The Government of Japan and the Philippines signed a ¥4.3 billion ($27 million) defense grant agreement in Manila on November 9, 2026. The deal provides coastal radar systems for the Philippine Navy and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Philippine Air Force to improve maritime domain awareness and surveillance in the South China Sea and Luzon Strait.
This agreement marks the first transfer of finished Japanese-made defense equipment under the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program established in 2023. The program is designed to help developing nations counter China's regional influence and secure critical sea lanes. The security package follows a previous 2023 grant for coastal radar and coincides with Japan's broader military buildup, which includes lifting bans on lethal weapons exports.
Beyond security, the two nations signed a separate grant to improve the water supply system in Cotabato City. In a related diplomatic effort in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with Vietnamese President To Lam to deepen defense and economic cooperation to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.
