Japan and Mongolia boost defence ties with new radar system
The agreement, which provides Mongolia with an air traffic control radar system, is part of Japan’s defence assistance programme inaugurated in 2023. For the Japanese government, it enhances its commitment to regional stability in an anti-Chinese perspective.
Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Japan will supply Mongolia with an air traffic control radar system as part of the first provision of official security assistance to the East Asian country.
The project, worth 1.3 billion yen (about US$ 8.7 million), is part of a defence assistance programme Japan launched in 2023 to consolidate security ties with certain Asian countries.
The Japanese ambassador to Mongolia, Masaru Igawahara, and the Mongolian Defence Minister, Sandag Byambatsogt, signed documents earlier this month in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian ministry said at a press conference.
The new radar system, which will come into operation over the coming years, will help the Mongolian Armed Forces improve air traffic control capabilities in the country’s domestic airspace.
Located between China and Russia and heavily dependent on both to meet its economic and energy needs, Mongolia signed an agreement with Japan in December for the transfer of defence equipment and technologies, becoming the sixteenth country to do so.
The agreement, which came into force in January, sets out procedures to ensure controls over exporting military goods to third parties and use other than those intended.
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the new radar will “contribute to ensuring security and safe use of the airspace based on the rule of law” in Mongolia and the surrounding region.
For many analysts, closer bilateral cooperation is Japan’s response to the increase in Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific area, part of Tokyo’s strategy to build a Japan-friendly security environment through bilateral partnerships.
A few days ago, the Philippines also agreed to strengthen defence ties with Japan.
Japan's defence aid programme was inaugurated in 2023 with the aim of stabilising the Indo-Pacific region.
In the 2025 budget, the Japanese government plans to raise the security assistance budget by 60 per cent increase, to 8.1 billion yen (US$ 54 million).
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