The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) has said it is aware of several requests from countries in the Southeast Asian region for donations of excess defense equipment.
Besides military hardware, the Japanese government has also been approached by these Associations of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to share technical knowledge and expand on bilateral military collaborations.
Last year, two of the airframes have been delivered to the Philippine Navy, while three other aircraft are delivered in March 2018. The JMSDF is also providing training support on the TC-90 platform for Philippine Navy pilots and maintenance crew.
Japan also provided Coast Guard Ships to the Philippines, Vietnam and conducted maritime exercise between the country’s maritime agency.
The Japanese government strengthens defense relationships with countries in Southeast Asia and has started on several actions to improve maritime of government agencies in the region in recent years, especially with those from the Philippines.
The Philippines currently need two long-range maritime patrol aircraft with a budget of 6 billion pesos. And as Japan is going to retire the P3 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft and to be replaced with Kawasaki P-1, maybe the P3s aircraft is suitable for the Philippine Air Force.
