Philippines to Launch 5 Coast Guard Ships

The Philippines is set to launch five coast guard patrol ships valued at half a billion dollars, thanks to a loan from the Japanese government.

The Philippine Secretary of Economic Planning, Arsenio Balisacan, stated to journalists that the goal of the project is to enhance the country's ability to conduct patrols in the disputed South China Sea waters, particularly in areas contested with Beijing.

He mentioned that the ships, with a length of 97 meters each, will be delivered between 2027 and 2028, financed by a loan of 29.3 billion pesos (equivalent to 525 million US dollars) from Japan.

Balisacan said, "The coast guard project will secure vital maritime lines of communication in the Western Philippine Sea, among other things," using the Philippine term for parts that the country claims ownership of in the South China Sea.

He added that the project will also assist the Philippine Coast Guard in addressing illegal activities and enforcing maritime laws in Philippine waters.

The Philippines announced the project following a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the country, where he pledged in a speech that Japan would "continue to contribute to enhancing the Philippines' security capabilities."