Japan hands over coastal radar systems to PH

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. received the radars in a ceremony witnessed by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, together with officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Defense Attaché officers of the Japan Self-Defense Force.“Facilitated under Japan’s Official Security Assistance FY 2023, the milestone marks a significant step in strengthening the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness and coastal defense capabilities,” the DND said in a social media post.The Philippine Navy will be taking hold of the radars, which will be installed and form part of the Philippine National Coast Watch System for a more enhanced maritime domain awareness capability across the country.According to Navy spokesman Capt. Marissa Martinez, the radars usually pass through the necessary channels before officially being handed to the Navy.“So it will go first to DND, then to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, because the transfer of equipment would be based on their constitution, also because there are things that are allowed and not allowed. And radars are part of the items that are usually for the transfer,” Martinez said.The transfer of the radars is part of the $10.6-million Official Security Assistance grant that Tokyo says will strengthen Manila’s capabilities in the South China Sea and Luzon Strait.Kazuya and former Foreign Affairs secretary Enrique Manalo inked the grant in Manila in late 2024, following a series of incidents with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.This is the second time Japan has pledged defense assistance to the Philippines under the Official Security Assistance grant scheme that focuses on military and other defense-related transfers from Tokyo to its partners and allies across the Indo-Pacific.Last year, the Philippines was the first to receive assistance from the program when Japan pledged $4 million in maritime domain awareness radars.