WNAM REPORT:Japan has allocated 8.1 billion yen ($51 million) for fiscal 2025 to provide defense equipment to the armed forces of like-minded nations, marking a more than 60 percent increase from the previous year.
While the government has yet to finalize the recipient nations for the next fiscal year from April under its “official security assistance” program, the Philippines, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea are set to be included, Foreign Ministry officials said.
Japan is also considering giving security aid to some Pacific island states, according to the officials.
The spending is part of the government’s 115.5 trillion yen draft initial budget for fiscal 2025, approved by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet late last month.
For the current fiscal year through March, the ministry has earmarked 5 billion yen and designated the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti as recipients of the grant aid.
Tokyo launched the defense aid framework in 2023 to “ensure the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region” and “create a security environment desirable for Japan,” amid mounting concerns, including China’s maritime assertiveness in the South and East China seas.
The program backs efforts by developing countries to beef up their defense capabilities in areas such as maritime and aerial surveillance, disaster response and other forms of humanitarian assistance, as well as U.N. peacekeeping operations.
Assistance for foreign militaries is not covered by Japan’s official development assistance, which is limited to nonmilitary objectives.
As for the development aid, the government has set aside 566.4 billion yen for the next fiscal year, up 0.2 percent from the previous year.
