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Japan plans warship transfers to Philippines and Indonesia
The Philippines expects to receive five Abukuma-class destroyer escorts within two to three years as Tokyo weighs longer-term defense assistance.
Japan is planning to transfer ageing but still usable warships to the Philippines and Indonesia, a move observers say could give Tokyo additional geopolitical leverage while strengthening regional security ties.
According to SCMP Economy, the Philippines expects to receive five Abukuma-class destroyer escorts within two to three years, while Japan and Jakarta are discussing the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers, with the first ship of that class retired in March after 38 years of service.
The transfers would fit into Japan’s broader security assistance toolkit, which includes equipment, training, maintenance, and interoperability, according to SCMP Economy.
An analysis published Aug. 25 by Japan’s National Institute for Defence Studies suggested Tokyo could broaden the pool of equipment for such transfers, and noted that the key factor is whether Japan can provide hardware while still maintaining the defense capabilities it needs, not whether the equipment is new or old or active or retired.
SCMP Economy also cited a NIDS researcher, Akinori Ishihara, who pointed to Japan’s historical transfer of operational warships to Russia during World War I after newer vessels reduced their importance in Japan’s future fleet.