The Philippines’ acquisition of maritime patrol vessels from the Japanese government is “undergoing serious consideration” as the two countries, which have separate territorial disputes with China, seek to build stronger ties.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Thursday said that the country’s plan to acquire 10 brand new multi-role response vessels from Japan was thoroughly discussed during his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

“On maritime security, the Japanese government has been assisting the Philippines in strengthening the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard through human resource development and augmentation of much needed communications system equipment for maritime safety,” del Rosario said.

Kishida, whose visit to Manila was his first foreign trip, since the election of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, called for stronger ties with the Philippines to help ensure regional peace.

“As the strategic environment in the region is greatly changing, it is necessary for us foreign ministers to share recognition of the situation,” Kishida said after meeting del Rosario.

“On the political and security front we agreed on strengthening policy dialogue and enhancing maritime cooperation and other measures,” he added.

In a statement, Kishida said that he and del Rosario agreed to advance cooperation in expanding trade and investment, improving infrastructure in the Philippines through official development assistance and accepting Filipino nurses and caregivers in Japan.

He added that his government had also agreed to extend loans for the expansion of Light Rail Transit Line 1 and Line 2 and the construction of a new airport in Bohol province.

In July 2012, Minister Shinsuke Shimizu, head of chancery of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, said that his country would donate 10 “brand-new” patrol boats to the Philippine Coastal Guard by 2014.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez, however, said that there are no details yet as to the target date of the acquisition and the amount of the loan, which, he said, will be part of Japan’s assistance to the Philippines.

Tokyo is the largest provider of development assistance to Manila. It has also provided humanitarian aid to the Philippines during calamities.

The Japanese government has been helping the Philippines to modernize its Navy since 1990.

Japan donated BRP Corregidor, a search and rescue vessel, 15 years ago. It was the same vessel that confronted Chinese maritime ships at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) last year.

Japan is also Philippines’ No. 1 trade partner with trade exceeding $13 billion in 2012.

Japan and the Philippines are locked in their respective territorial disputes with a rising China.

Japan’s dispute is over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China.

The row between the Philippines and China is over rival claims to parts of the West Philippine Sea.

del Rosario, who was vocal in his opposition against China’s aggressiveness in the region, said that the Philippines will support a “stronger Japan.”

He said that an armed Japan will help balance the power in Asia Pacific, which is currently reeling in the wake of Beijing’s enormous military and economic power.

WITH A REPORT FROM AFP