Manila to get destroyers from Tokyo to deter China

TOKYO: Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported yesterday, as the two US allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing.

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The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources.

Defence ministers Gen Nakatani and Gilberto Teodoro agreed to the destroyer export when they met in Singapore last month, the Yomiuri said, adding the Philippine military is set to inspect the destroyers this summer as part of the final preparations.