The government has established a new framework for providing security-related aid to the militaries of “like-minded” developing countries.

Under the program, Japan will provide a wide range of grant aid to help recipients enhance their national security, including providing materials, equipment and support for infrastructure development.

The program represents a major and radical turning point for Japan’s postwar foreign aid policy, which has consistently been focused on nonmilitary areas. The policy initiative raises serious concerns about the risks of heightening tensions with China and fueling international conflicts.

The new type of foreign aid, dubbed official security assistance (OSA), will differ from official development assistance (ODA), which is aimed at supporting economic and social development in the recipient nations.

OSA is designed as direct support to foreign militaries for bolstering their security capabilities.

In explaining the purposes of the new program, the government claims it is vital to help “like-minded” countries strengthen their deterrent capabilities for securing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan’s own efforts for fundamental enhancement of its defense capabilities alone are not sufficient, the government contends.

There is no doubt that the move is another policy response to China’s rapid military buildup and aggressive maritime expansion.

The aid program will cover four countries, for the time being. The Philippines and Malaysia are locked in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

Bangladesh is involved in Beijing’s gigantic “One Belt, One Road” global infrastructure investment initiative, while Fiji is located in the South Pacific, where the United States and China are fiercely competing for regional influence.

Indeed, the list of equipment to be supplied under the OSA program does not include lethal weapons. Air surveillance radar systems and patrol boats are among the equipment on the list.

But such defense aid to countries around China could instead undermine stability in the region unless it is combined with diplomatic efforts to expand dialogue with Beijing and build a regional order that is helpful for coexistence and co-prosperity.

The government also says the program will only cover “limited fields not directly relating to any international conflict,” such as surveillance of territorial waters and airspace, anti-terrorist and anti-piracy measures, disaster responses and the upgrading of capabilities to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

But it is doubtful whether this program will remain untouched by conflict.

In developing countries, it is not uncommon for diplomatic and security policies to be radically changed after regime changes and coups. Some developing nations are also struggling with their own internal conflicts.

The government says it will conclude an international agreement with the recipient for each case to ensure that the equipment supplied will not be used for other purposes or not transferred to other countries.

There is, however, no guarantee that such agreements will be honored permanently since decisions concerning these requirements will eventually have to be left to the recipients.

The government has decided on “implementation guidelines” for OSA, which include the passage “maintaining our basic philosophy as a peace-loving nation.” It stresses this new kind of foreign aid will be fully in line with the current “three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology.”

But the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, are set to start talks to review the three principles and their implementation guidelines as early as late this month.

Some LDP lawmakers are calling for changes in the three principles to allow overseas sales of escort vessels and fighter jets. If the three principles are changed, the nature of OSA will also change.

The government must not take any step toward opening the door to supplying lethal weapons under the OSA framework.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 7