The exchange of notes on grant aid between foreign minister Prak Sokhonn and ambassador of Japan to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi on December 10. Japanese embassy
Japan has provided maritime patrol boats to Cambodia’s Maritime Police Department, valued at over $7 million. This makes Cambodia the first ASEAN country to receive such aid under Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative.
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The grant was finalised on December 10 through the signing of an exchange of notes and related documents for the $7.2 million “Economic and Social Development Programme”. The agreement was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi.
While the ministry did not elaborate on the specifics of the grant, Ueno stated that the Japanese government is providing four patrol boats to Cambodia’s Maritime Police Department. These include two large and two medium-sized vessels.
Ueno noted the importance of the boats for Cambodia, which has a 400-kilometre coastline, to bolster maritime law enforcement, combat illegal fishing, address maritime crimes and strengthen other security measures.
He said the boats will also enhance the country’s ability to conduct rescue and salvage operations at sea, adding that the grant was made in response to a formal request from Cambodia.
According to Ueno, the project reflects Japan’s commitment to strengthening “maritime connectivity”, one of the “three new cooperation approaches” announced by former Japanese foreign minister Kamikawa Yoko during her visit to Cambodia in July. The initiative was further affirmed during a phone conversation in October between Japanese foreign minister Iwaya Takeshi and Cambodia’s former foreign minister Sok Chenda Sophea.
In March 2023, the Japanese government announced a new FOIP plan to uphold maritime rule of law across the ASEAN region. The initiative includes the provision of patrol boats and related equipment, maritime law enforcement training and support for maritime transport infrastructure.
“I am very pleased to implement this cooperative project with Cambodia, the first ASEAN country to support the FOIP initiative,” Ueno said.
“I’m confident that this project will further enhance the maritime law enforcement capabilities of the Maritime Police Department at the Ministry of Interior, and Cambodia’s strengthened capacities will contribute to the realisation of a free and open maritime order,” he added.
Interior ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak could not be reached to confirm where the boats will be stationed.
In October, Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasised that the country would not align itself with any politically motivated regional or global initiatives, particularly those opposing specific countries or blocs.
He tasked Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth with reviewing such initiatives to determine whether the Kingdom should participate or abstain.
“I want to clarify that many mechanisms are currently being created, especially within our region. Some of them are only slightly related to the economy, or not at all, but instead carry political or security elements that could compromise our neutral political stance,” Manet said.
