As tensions with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continue to escalate in the South China Sea issue, the Philippines is strengthening its naval resources. Recently, Japan and the Philippines reached the largest maritime security cooperation project to date.
In the collaboration known as the “Maritime Safety Enhancement Program Phase III,” the Japanese government will provide funding to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the form of loans to acquire five 97-meter-long “Multi-Role Response Vessels” (MRRVs) and a comprehensive five-year logistics support program. The total value of the project is approximately 23.9 billion pesos (about 415 million US dollars).
According to a press release issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday (17th), Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo jointly participated in the signing of the official development assistance (ODA) loan agreement for the cooperation project and the exchange of diplomatic notes.
Manalo stated in his speech, “This event not only marks the deepening bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan but also emphasizes our unwavering commitment to enhancing our maritime safety capabilities for the benefit of our country and the broader maritime community.”
As reported by the Philippine National Economic and Development Authority, the project was approved by the Philippine government in the fall of last year, aiming to enhance the Philippine Coast Guard’s ability to respond to threats and incidents within the country’s maritime jurisdiction, ensuring the security of “critical maritime traffic routes.”
Most of the Philippine Coast Guard’s active vessels, especially those in the South China Sea, are manufactured in Japan and are part of the Japan-Philippines cooperative project. Since 2013, Japan has provided loans for the acquisition of 12 patrol boats and offered training and logistical assistance as part of the cooperation.
Since March of this year, at least three conflicts have erupted in the disputed waters of the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, with Chinese Coast Guard ships firing water cannons at Filipino vessels, injuring Filipino crew members and causing damage to the vessels.
Earlier this month, the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines held a four-nation defense ministerial meeting in Hawaii to discuss enhancing stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. They also discussed new initiatives such as conducting more joint maritime exercises and activities and providing coordinated security assistance to the Philippines.
The South China Sea serves as a crucial passage for over 3 trillion US dollars’ worth of shipping trade annually. The CCP claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, while countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei also claim sovereignty over parts of the region. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that China’s claims lack a legal basis.