Japan has decided to provide four countries in Asia and Africa with equipment to support monitoring and surveillance under its security cooperation framework.

The framework, known as Official Security Assistance or OSA, is designed to enhance security ties with likeminded nations through the provision of defense equipment and other materials.

In fiscal 2023, Japan agreed to provide the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji with coastal surveillance radar systems and other equipment.

The four OSA recipients for this fiscal year are the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti.

The Philippines and Indonesia are in Southeast Asia. Mongolia borders China and Russia. The eastern African country of Djibouti hosts a temporary base for Japan's Self-Defense Forces personnel.

The government plans to provide equipment to help improve maritime monitoring and surveillance activities and air traffic control in these countries. Funding will come from some 5 billion yen, or approximately 33.4 million dollars, earmarked in the fiscal 2024 budget.

Formal agreements between Japan and each of the four nations is expected to be reached in the near future.

The government hopes OSA will help advance security cooperation with the countries. It is also considering expanding the program to other nations, mainly in the Indo-Pacific region, in the next fiscal year starting from April 2025.