Japan doubles security aid recipients, adding Sri Lanka, Thailand
TOKYO -- Japan will double the number of countries that can receive Official Security Assistance (OSA) to eight, strengthening ties with nations directly connected to its maritime security.
The countries in the Indo-Pacific region eligible for OSA in fiscal 2025 are the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, as well as the newly added Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, East Timor and Papua New Guinea.
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Yomiuri Shimbun
17 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan to Provide Defense Equipment to 8 Countries Under OSA; Framework Helps Like-Minded Nations Enhance Security Capabilities
The government has begun discussing the selection of eight countries in fiscal 2025 as recipients of the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program that provides defense equipment, according to sources. Japan's OSA aims to help like-minded countries enhance their security capabilities by providing the equipment to member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that are located on important points of Japan's sea lanes, and to Pacific island nations where China is increasing its influence. The government plans to provide the OSA aid to the eight countries, including Thailand, the Philippines and Tonga, as eligible recipients that share the same values as Japan. The defense equipment includes things such as unmanned aerial vehicle drones and high-speed patrol boats. Other potential recipients are Indonesia, Malaysia, East Timor, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea. In addition to Japan's domestically made drones, the government plans to provide military vessels for search and rescue missions and heavy machineries to be utilized in the event of disasters. Related costs for the provisions are estimated to total about ¥8 billion. The OSA is a framework in which Japan can directly assist military forces of like-minded countries and differs from the official development assistance framework in which aid is limited to non-military fields. Since fiscal 2023, the Japanese government has decided to provide coastal surveillance radar, air control radar and high-speed patrol boats to the Philippines and Mongolia.
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Kyodo News
Japan to provide defense equipment to Thailand, 7 other nations
KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 09:01 | All, Japan Japan plans to supply defense equipment to Thailand, Tonga and six other nations in the current fiscal year as security aid, a government source said Friday, in bid to ensure safe sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region where China is evolving its military posture. The eight countries -- also including East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Sri Lanka -- are expected to be designated as the recipients of Japan's "official security assistance" framework, designed for like-minded partners, for fiscal 2025 from April, the source said. The government is considering providing them Japanese-made drones to help in their natural disaster relief and maritime surveillance missions, according to the source. Japan launched the OSA scheme in April 2023 to help developing countries strengthen their defense capabilities amid security concerns such as the Chinese forces' increasing assertiveness at sea and in the air. In the past two fiscal years through 2024, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia and the Philippines were recipients of the assistance program. In May, Japan gave the Fiji navy a rescue boat and surveillance equipment, in its first delivery under the OSA framework. In its fiscal 2025 initial budget, Japan earmarked 8.1 billion yen ($56 million) for OSA assistance, up from 2 billion yen in fiscal 2023 and 5 billion yen in fiscal 2024. Related coverage: 87 Japanese nationals, family members evacuated from Iran, Israel Japan destroyer sails Taiwan Strait after China jet encounter 520 landings, takeoffs seen from 2 Chinese carriers in Pacific: Japan
Japan Today
a day ago
- Japan Today
Japan to provide defense equipment to Thailand, 7 other nations
Japan plans to supply defense equipment to Thailand, Tonga and six other nations in the current fiscal year as security aid, a government source said Friday, in bid to ensure safe sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region where China is evolving its military posture. The eight countries -- also including East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Sri Lanka -- are expected to be designated as the recipients of Japan's "official security assistance" framework, designed for like-minded partners, for fiscal 2025 from April, the source said. The government is considering providing them Japanese-made drones to help in their natural disaster relief and maritime surveillance missions, according to the source. Japan launched the OSA scheme in April 2023 to help developing countries strengthen their defense capabilities amid security concerns such as the Chinese forces' increasing assertiveness at sea and in the air. In the past two fiscal years through 2024, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia and the Philippines were recipients of the assistance program. In May, Japan gave the Fiji navy a rescue boat and surveillance equipment, in its first delivery under the OSA framework. In its fiscal 2025 initial budget, Japan earmarked 8.1 billion yen ($56 million) for OSA assistance, up from 2 billion yen in fiscal 2023 and 5 billion yen in fiscal 2024. © KYODO
