Japan Considers Transferring Retiring Warships to Partners Like Philippines and Indonesia
Quick Look
Japan is exploring the transfer of retiring warships, such as Abukuma-class and Asagiri-class destroyers, to partners like the Philippines and Indonesia to strengthen defence relationships and expand regional influence without requiring alignment against Beijing, according to analysis from Japan's National Institute for Defence Studies.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Japan is using retiring warships as part of its security assistance toolkit to build long-term defence relationships through equipment, training, maintenance, and interoperability.
Such transfers, they said, fit into Tokyo’s broader security assistance toolkit to strengthen partners’ capabilities and forge longer-term defence relationships through equipment, training, maintenance and interoperability – expanding Japan’s regional influence without demanding alignment against Beijing.
Providing retiring warships is an important element of that push. The Philippines expects to receive five Abukuma-class destroyer escorts within two to three years, while Tokyo and Jakarta are discussing the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers, the first of which was retired in March after 38 years of service.
An analysis published on August 25 by Japan’s National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS), the defence ministry’s main research institute, suggests Tokyo could eventually broaden the pool of equipment for such transfers.
NIDS researcher Akinori Ishihara pointed to Japan’s transfer of ageing but still operational warships to Russia during World War I after newer vessels reduced their relative importance in Japan’s future fleet.
Ishihara argued that the key consideration was not whether equipment was new or old, or active or retired, but whether Japan could transfer it and still maintain the defence capabilities it needed.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Japan will transfer five Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines within two to three years.
Very likely · Within years
Tokyo and Jakarta will finalize discussions on the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Which specific Asagiri-class destroyers are under discussion for transfer to Indonesia?
- What training or maintenance packages will accompany the transferred warships?
- How will Japan ensure it maintains its own defence capabilities while transferring older vessels?
