Japan Lends Vietnam Coast Guard JPY36.6B to Build 6 Patrol Ships

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Vietnam’s government on July 28 signed an official development assistance (ODA) loan, worth JPY36.6 billion ($348.42 million), from Japan to Vietnam to build six patrol ships, state media reported. The deal aims to help Vietnam improve its law enforcement; maritime search and rescue; and security and freedom of navigation and aviation in Vietnam. The project will apply Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) terms and utilize Japan’s modern shipbuilding technology. It also aims to contribute to the free and open Indo-Pacific initiative. The JICA also addressed problems in the East Sea (South China Sea), including maritime accidents, crimes, smuggling, illegal fishing, among others. JICA will start sending bidding letters from August 2020, then will begin bidding in October 2021, and eventually complete the construction in October 2025. (VOAVietnamese, VietnamNews, Zing, Tuoi Tre, Nhan Dan, VnExpress, Lao Dong)