Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines amid China tensions

Japan plans to export six used naval destroyers to the Philippines to bolster its maritime defence capabilities against China's growing presence, Japanese media reported Sunday.

Japan will provide the Philippines with six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to support Manila’s maritime deterrence efforts, according to a report by Yomiuri citing government sources. The ships, which have been in service for over 30 years with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, will undergo inspection by Philippine naval experts this summer.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro in Singapore last month. The Philippine Navy confirmed the planned assessment, noting that the outcome will inform decisions on the acquisition and its fit within the country’s naval modernisation strategy.

The deal marks another step in deepening defence cooperation between the two U.S. allies, which both face growing maritime challenges from China — in the South China Sea for the Philippines and the East China Sea for Japan.

Bilateral security ties have expanded to include joint military exercises, radar support, and a reciprocal access agreement signed last year allowing mutual troop deployments.

To navigate Japan's strict military export restrictions under its pacifist constitution, the destroyer deal will be classified as a joint development initiative, given the expected addition of equipment and communication systems tailored for the Philippine Navy.

The Abukuma-class vessels, each with a displacement of 2,000 tons and a crew of about 120, are armed with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, torpedo launchers, and deck guns. The addition of these destroyers would significantly expand the Philippine Navy’s capabilities, which currently include only frigates and corvettes.

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