Japan will aid nations located in Southeast Asia by bolstering their maritime forces through long-term support in response to rising concern surrounding Chinese activity in the South China Sea.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency drew up a 10-year plan to support the coast guards of Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The plan was given top priority by the government.
Surveys have already been taken in the Philippines and Indonesia, with plans to conduct surveys in Malaysia and Vietnam in April of this year.
A detailed plan will arrive in March 2025, with Japan planning to hold discussions with the four countries on providing drones, radar systems, patrol vessels, and the development of human resources.
China claims most of the SCS and the entirety of the Spratly Islands, which also overlap with the Exclusive Economic Zones of the four countries.
