MANILA (Kyodo) -- Japan signed an agreement on Thursday to supply coastal surveillance radar to the Philippine Navy as the two nations ramp up defense collaboration amid China's military activities in the South China Sea.

With the 1.6 billion yen ($10.7 million) project, part of Tokyo's "official security assistance" to support like-minded partners with defense equipment, Japan aims to safeguard a key maritime trade route.

Inflatable rubber boats and equipment related to the radar system will also be provided, according to the Japanese Embassy in Manila. Last year, Japan spent 600 million yen to provide five other radar units to the Philippines, its first provision under the OSA framework.

Philippine and Chinese vessels have been engaged in tense encounters in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims.

The latest assistance from Japan will improve "capabilities to deter threats to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said.

In an interview with Kyodo News in May, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro underscored the need for additional coastal surveillance radar from Japan.

Under the OSA scheme, launched in April last year, Tokyo will also deliver battery parts for four air surveillance radar units, which are set to be exported to Manila based on a bilateral deal in 2020. The Philippine Air Force has already received two of them.

Sharing concerns over China's maritime activities, Japan and the Philippines have been boosting security cooperation in recent years, and signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement in July that relaxed restrictions on personnel transfers between their forces to facilitate joint exercises.