Japan Considers Destroyer Transfers to Southeast Asia, Navigating Export Restrictions
Japan is exploring the potential transfer of Abukuma-class destroyer escort ships to several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, as part of its 2022 defense build-up plan aimed at bolstering security partnerships with like-minded countries. however, the move faces significant legal hurdles stemming from Japan’s strict arms export policies.
Six Abukuma-class vessels,equipped with anti-ship missiles and over 30 years in service with the Maritime Self-Defense Force,are currently being phased out.The Philippines has expressed strong interest in acquiring these ships, with Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Jose maria Ambrosio Ezpeleta indicating a desire for up to three during a Senate committee hearing on October 7th. He also acknowledged the possibility of certain weapons systems being removed to comply with Japanese legal constraints.
The core challenge lies in Japan’s “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology,” which currently limits exports to equipment used for rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping. Destroyer escort ships, possessing offensive capabilities, fall outside these permitted categories.
To circumvent these restrictions, Japanese officials are considering classifying the potential export to the Philippines as a form of “joint progress.” This would involve modifying the Abukuma-class ships to include Philippine-requested equipment and communication systems. A similar approach was utilized in August when Japan’s Mogami-class frigate was selected for Australia’s naval upgrade under a joint development framework.
However, this interpretation of “joint development” has drawn criticism. Miho Aoi,a constitutional scholar at Gakushuin University in Tokyo,cautioned that a broad definition could lead to an unchecked expansion of arms exports.
Within the Japanese government, some officials advocate for revisions to the Three Principles to better reflect current geopolitical realities and facilitate the export of escort vessels. A Defense Ministry expert panel report released in September supported this view, calling for a more pragmatic approach to the existing categories to garner public support for broader transfers.
Despite this, revising the principles remains politically sensitive. A previous attempt to overhaul the policies in December 2023 encountered internal resistance within the ruling coalition. the principles themselves are described as complex and ambiguously defined, making revisions a delicate undertaking.
The interest from the Philippines is driven by its ongoing territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea and a desire to strengthen its naval capabilities. Discussions regarding the potential transfer were held during a bilateral meeting in Seoul on September 9th between Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro. Nakatani acknowledged the complexity of the issue but affirmed the government’s commitment to examining the matter and addressing domestic challenges.
