The Japanese government has decided to provide five new large patrol vessels to the Philippines, which is in conflict with China over territorial rights in the South China Sea, through yen loans, and a signing ceremony was held in the capital Manila.
The signing ceremony was held on the 17th at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, and was attended by Foreign Minister Manalo, as well as Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo.
The five patrol vessels, which will be provided as a yen loan of over 64 billion yen as ODA (Official Development Assistance), are large vessels with a total length of 97 meters that can perform long-term missions in the open sea, and will be handed over to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Foreign Minister Manalo expressed his gratitude for Japan's support, saying, "We will strengthen our maritime security capabilities for the Philippines and the broader maritime region.
"The Philippine Coast Guard, which is currently in a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, is strengthening its organization to deal with China's increasingly coercive actions, but there is a shortage of patrol vessels that can operate in the open sea.
The Japanese government has provided a total of 12 patrol vessels to date, and Ambassador Endo said, "Japan would like to continue to cooperate with the international community, including the Philippines and the United States, to protect a free and open international order based on the rule of law."