Japan to donate coast guard patrol boats to the Philippines

Japan will be donating an unspecified number of maritime patrol vessels to the Philippines, each costing $11 million, to help ramp up regional efforts in monitoring China’s maritime activity in disputed waters.

These newly built patrol vessels will be handed over to the Philippines financed from the Japanese government’s fiscal 2013 budget starting in April.

Last month, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visited Manila and called for stronger ties with the Philippines to help ensure regional peace.

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