The Japanese embassy in Phnom Penh has dismissed rumours that the government of Japan will supply military drones to Thailand, as tensions rise over ongoing border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.
In a message delivered via the embassy’s telegram channel this morning, Miyoshi Asagi, counsellor at the embassy, said that the rumour was untrue, describing it as misinformation.
“We’ve learned that there’s a rumour or information that the Japanese government will provide fighting drones to Thailand. This information is false. The Japanese government has never planned to provide such equipment to Thailand nor has received such a request from Thailand. Japan’s security assistance is strictly limited to areas not directly related to international conflict. Please don’t get carried away with fake news,” she said.
She added that Japan, as a friend of both Cambodia and Thailand, is worried about the current tensions and strongly hopes that the problem will be solved as early as possible through constructive dialogue.
According to Kyodo’s June 21 report, Japan will supply defence equipment to Thailand, Tonga and six other nations in the current fiscal year, as security aid. The aim is to ensure safe sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region, where China is evolving its military posture.
East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Sri Lanka will also be the recipients of this aid, delivered under Japan’s “official security assistance” framework.
The equipment includes Japanese-made drones which will be used for natural disaster relief and maritime surveillance missions.
