Following the most significant overhaul of its defense export policies in decades, Japan is looking to fast-track the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers and TC-90 aircraft to the Philippines, according to the Japanese defense minister.
Speaking at a press conference during his official visit to Manila on Tuesday, Shinjiro Koizumi stated that Tokyo and Manila have agreed to enhance defense technology collaboration.
This cooperation will be facilitated through a freshly established framework designed for the transfer of military hardware.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed that both nations have reached an agreement in principle regarding the defense equipment transfer and are currently ironing out the specific technicalities.
While neither minister disclosed an exact timeline for when the hardware would be shipped, they agreed to form a specialized working group. This panel will be responsible for defining both the policy guidelines and the operational criteria required to execute the final handover.
Both Japan and the Philippines serve as vital regional allies to the United States and find themselves entangled in ongoing maritime sovereignty disputes with China in the East and South China Seas, respectively.