By South China Morning Post | Created at 2026-08-28 02:37:02 | Updated at 2026-08-28 03:59:54
1 hour ago
Japan plans to provide defence equipment and other supplies to the armed forces of at least 12 like-minded countries under its Official Security Assistance programme this financial year, up from eight countries the previous year, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The military of Kenya, which sits on the western Indian Ocean, is expected to be a first-time recipient under the programme, with the Japanese government seeking to strengthen maritime security cooperation, particularly in surveillance and monitoring, amid China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan selects recipient countries each financial year. The government has allocated about 18.1 billion yen (US$114 million) for the security assistance programme in the year ending March 2027, more than double the roughly 8 billion yen set aside for the last financial year.
Other countries being considered for help include the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka, as well as Vietnam, East Timor and Palau.
Japan is considering supplying completed defence equipment, excluding items defined under Japan’s Self-Defence Forces Law as weapons intended to kill or destroy.
To date, Japan has mainly provided dual-use equipment and supplies to foreign militaries, including patrol boats and coastal surveillance radar systems.
The government also hopes that greater use of Japanese-made equipment will help expand the country’s defence industry overseas.
