Japan intends to provide friendly nations with financial aid to bolster their defenses, which means it is first breaking the rules that prohibit the use of foreign aid for military purposes.
Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) will be run independently from the Overseas Development Aid (ODA) program, which has sponsored roads, dams, and other civil infrastructure projects for decades, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno during a regular press conference.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement: “Through increasing their security and deterrent capacities, OSA wants to enhance our security cooperation with the nations in order to create a favorable security environment for Japan.”
In accordance with the three principles that regulate arms exports, the assistance will not be used to procure lethal weapons that recipient countries could use in conflicts with other nations.
Foreign ministry said that by the end of this fiscal year, they hope to have completed their first aid package, which will consist of satellite communication and radio systems for maritime surveillance.
Possible early recipients of the aid are the Philippines and Bangladesh. Japan is thinking about giving radars to the Philippines so that it can keep an eye on Chinese activity in the South China Sea. It is also giving serious thought to providing such assistance to Fiji and Malaysia.
