Japanese Aso-class patrol vessel Dewa. (Picture source: Japanese government)
For 2024, the OSA (Japan’s Official Security Assistance program–Chuck) has earmarked nations such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, and Djibouti. Notably, the first three have ongoing maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea…To strengthen its oversight of territorial waters and skies, Japan is considering equipping these nations with patrol boats, radar tech, drones, and communication tools.
While the US has transferred a lot of overage Coast Guard cutters, the Japanese generally supply new ships on very favorable financial terms. This helps maintain Japan’s shipbuilding capacity.
Japan has already supplied the Philippines with two large patrol cutters and ten smaller patrol craft. Japan has an agreement with Vietnam to build six cutters based on the Aso class pictured above. Japan has gifted at least one older cutter to Malaysia.
It is not clear if the patrol boats mentioned in the title are actually free or if they refer to new or previously arranged programs.
Thanks to Lee for bringing this to my attention.