Japan eyes Philippines as first recipient of security grant

• Japan is looking to provide a security cooperation grant to the Philippines, its first such allotment under a new program designed to bolster the defensive capabilities of regional allies.
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Tokyo on 9 Feb, with both sides working to include the grant in the summit’s outcome document.
• In key security policy documents, Japan outlined plans to create the new program as a way to strengthen the armed forces of partner countries. The government’s draft budget for fiscal 2023 included JPY2bn (USD15.2mn) for the initiative.
• The Philippines would be the first recipient of the grants, which could take the form of funding and equipment.
• The new program is separate from Japan’s development assistance grants, which are limited to non-military purposes.
• Marcos further expressed interest in pursuing wide-ranging cooperation with Japan, including on the national security and economic fronts.

External Link : https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-eyes-Philippines-as-first-recipient-of-security-grant