Latest news with #Takanami-class
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Japan mulls over exporting used destroyers to S-E Asia allies
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Japan's Takanami-class destroyer JS Sazanami sail on an anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia. TOKYO – Japan is considering the export of used Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyers to South-east Asia, government sources said on Aug 13, in an effort to strengthen security ties with countries in the region where key sea lanes are located. Japan has been studying the export of Abukuma-class ships to the Philippines following a June meeting in Singapore where the countries' defence ministers discussed the matter. Tokyo is also looking at Indonesia and Vietnam as possible export destinations, according to the sources. Japan's principles on the overseas transfer of defence equipment and technology restrict the export of lethal weapons under its war-renouncing Constitution. But Japan eased its strict rules on the overseas transfer of defence equipment in 2024 to allow exports of lethal arms only if they are jointly developed or produced with other nations, with an eye on future sales of a next-generation fighter jet being developed with Britain and Italy. If the ship exports proceed, the Japanese government plans to classify the destroyers as 'jointly developed' products by making specification changes, the sources said, a move that could spark controversy. According to the Defence Ministry, six Abukuma-class destroyers were commissioned between 1989 and 1993, and all are set to be retired and replaced by new types operable by smaller crews, as the Self-Defence Forces have been struggling with a chronic personnel shortage. In its Defence Buildup Programme drawn up in 2022, the government said it will 'decommission vessels that have been in service for a considerable amount of years and have limitations in expandability' at an 'early date', and consider their transfer to 'like-minded countries'. Japan agreed with Indonesia at their defence ministers' talks in January to establish a working-level consultation body on maritime security to strengthen cooperation, while also promoting defence exchanges with Vietnam, including the provision of used Japanese material transport vehicles. Japan and the Philippines, both US allies in Asia, have been deepening security cooperation, sharing concerns over China's assertive maritime posture in the East and South China seas. KYODO NEWS
GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Two Japanese destroyers dock at Port of Manila
Two warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) arrived Saturday at the Port of Manila as part of its deployment plan to promote security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The Philippine Navy welcomed the JS Ise, a Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer, and the JS Suzunami, Takanami-class destroyer. A highlight of the event was the disembarkation ceremony for naval officers from different countries who took part in the Ship Rider Cooperation Program. In a statement on Saturday, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines said the deployed JMSDF vessels are conducting joint training exercises with naval forces in the Indo-Pacific, including countries that regularly operate in the area. "These engagements serve to enhance the tactical capabilities of the JMSDF, foster mutual understanding and trust among participating navies, and deepen multilateral defense cooperation," the statement read. "Such initiatives reflect Japan's continued commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and a rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region," it added. In July 2024, the Philippines and Japan signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which aims to heighten defense cooperation between the two nations amid tensions in the South China Sea. Ahead of the signing, leaders of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States released a joint vision statement indicating the possibility of more combined naval training and exercises, with Manila set to receive support for its defense modernization priorities. Japan has previously participated in multilateral maritime cooperative activities with the Philippines and other allied nations, events which have irked China as it asserts its claim over disputed waters, including the West Philippine Sea. Just last weekend, the navies of the Philippines and Japan held their second bilateral maritime cooperative activity. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
