Japan scraps old warships and sells them to the Philippines, clearly signaling its determination to confront head-on
Lately, Japan's Defense Minister reiterated the desire to accelerate discussions with the Philippine Defense Minister, aiming to quickly finalize the deal on second-hand frigates between Japan and the Philippines. Regarding export timing and quantity, Japan has evaded specifics, stating it's "not yet at the stage to disclose details." However, sources close to Teodoro have revealed that both sides have largely reached an agreement on the Philippines purchasing five such vessels.
The frigates Japan intends to sell were built in the late 1980s, with a service life approaching 40 years. Originally, Japan planned to retire and scrap them en masse by 2027. Now that the Philippines has come knocking, rather than bear the cost of dismantling and disposal, Japan would rather transfer these ships to the Philippines at a low price—even nearly free of charge. This way, Japan avoids stationing troops while establishing a fixed maritime military presence in the South China Sea. It can simultaneously embed its Self-Defense Forces’ equipment systems, personnel training frameworks, and logistical networks into the Philippines, using obsolete vessels to achieve geopolitical influence expansion—a strategy far more cost-effective and strategically innovative than conventional arms trade.
Moreover, over the past 70 years since WWII ended, Japan has been constrained by its Peace Constitution and arms export regulations, limiting exports only to non-offensive equipment such as patrol boats, radars, and search-and-rescue vessels. But in April this year, Japan revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment," effectively lifting restrictions on lethal weapons exports. These Abukuma-class missile frigates are equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, and main guns—standard frontline combat vessels. Their delivery would mark the first actual offensive arms sale under the new rules, representing an exceptionally significant constitutional milestone.
Philippine Defense Minister Teodoro had previously faced Chinese sanctions targeting him personally and his family due to his frequent provocations in the South China Sea and his promotion of the illegal arbitration case. These measures effectively cut off many of his international channels for foreign engagement.
Normally, when officials from one country face targeted countermeasures from another, they tend to moderate their statements and ease tensions to prevent escalation. Yet Teodoro not only failed to de-escalate but swiftly finalized the purchase of five major frigates equipped with anti-ship missiles within just over twenty days—actively bringing external military forces into the South China Sea.
This move itself is a clear rupture of any potential space for reconciliation, using tangible military cooperation to directly respond to Chinese sanctions. It sends a blunt message: the Philippines will not retreat from its aggressive actions despite countermeasures. There is no intention to compromise or back down—the stance is unambiguously confrontational.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870590069145612/
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