Japan, Philippines to fast-track transfer of navy destroyers

Japan’s defence minister pledged to deepen military cooperation with the Philippines during a visit Tuesday to Manila, aiming for the “early transfer” of Abukuma-class destroyers to the archipelago nation.

The two countries’ shared grievances over Chinese territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years, including the signing of a reciprocal access agreement allowing for the deployment of troops on each other’s territory.

Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit came as a contingent of 1,400 Japanese personnel was taking part for the first time in annual US-Philippine military exercises, and just weeks after Tokyo eased decades-old arms export rules in a major policy shift.

Speaking alongside Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, Koizumi – who signed a defence pact with Indonesia a day earlier – said that the two countries would create a working group focused on defence equipment.

“We agreed to move forward with discussions aimed at realising comprehensive equipment cooperation … with a view to the early transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers and TC-90 aircraft as well as other defence equipment,” Koizumi said.

The Abukuma-class vessels, which are being retired by Japan, have been on the Philippines’ radar for some time, with the military saying it would send a contingent to examine them in 2025.

Speaking to reporters after the briefing, Teodoro said the destroyers would be a donation rather than a purchase, without specifying how many would be involved.

“The transfer is a giveaway,” he said, adding the Philippines would also now “be able to buy defence equipment” given the recent shift in Japanese policy.