Japan Considers Warship Transfer to Philippines

The Japan Times reports that Tokyo is considering the transfer of ABUKUMA-class destroyer ships to the Philippines to bolster Manila’s maritime security capabilities. Per the Philippine navy, the two countries are engaging in exploratory discussions, which will yield an inspection of the ships later this summer. If completed, the move would be Japan’s first export of a warship in decades. Japan’s six 2,500-ton ABUKUMA-class destroyers are designed for anti-submarine and anti-ship...