Japan Transfers Six Destroyers to Philippines Boosting Regional Naval Defense

Japan is transferring six decommissioned Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippine Navy in a landmark defense cooperation aimed at countering China's growing maritime assertiveness in the South China Sea. The destroyers, commissioned between 1989 and 1993 and equipped with anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons, will significantly enhance the Philippines' naval capabilities, which previously lacked such firepower. The agreement, confirmed by defense ministers from both nations during a June 2025 meeting in Singapore, is framed as a joint development project to comply with Japan's pacifist export policies. This move deepens strategic ties between the two U.S. allies, aligning with broader Indo-Pacific security efforts including the Reciprocal Access Agreement that facilitates mutual military basing. The transfer marks a pivotal shift in regional security dynamics, signaling increased military modernization among ASEAN countries to balance China's influence. Japanese defense firms like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are expected to benefit from related contracts, underscoring the deal's industrial and geopolitical significance.