Japan aims to counter China by transferring or selling "secondhand defense equipment" to the Philippines, indicating that Japan still lives in the era of "power struggles" and remains in a deep slumber.
The Yomiuri Shimbun's front-page report states that secondhand Japanese defense equipment could be provided free of charge or at low cost, with consideration being given to exporting patrol vessels to the Philippines to counter China's assertive "maritime expansion."
The government is considering revising the Self-Defense Forces Act to allow overseas exports of unused defense equipment—even weapons with lethal and destructive capabilities—under exceptional circumstances of no charge or low cost. Exporting patrol vessels to the Philippines is among the plans. With China continuing its aggressive "maritime expansion," the goal is to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries and enhance deterrence.
The necessity has been clearly stated in the upcoming revisions of national security strategy and other key defense documents, with the aim of enacting legal amendments during next year’s regular Diet session. Multiple government sources revealed this. Defense Minister Koizumi plans to visit the Philippines and Indonesia during the May Golden Week holiday to negotiate the export of secondhand equipment.
Under fiscal law, even secondhand equipment is treated as state property and cannot be provided free of charge or at a reduced price. The current Self-Defense Forces Act Article 116-3 allows transfer of non-lethal items—such as helmets—at below-market prices to governments in developing regions, but weapons and ammunition like patrol vessels are not covered under this provision.
On the 21st of this month, the government revised the guidelines for applying the three principles on defense equipment transfers, stating that rules regarding overseas exports now permit, in principle, the export of weapons with lethal and destructive capabilities. The Philippines and Indonesia are included in the list of 17 eligible countries for such exports.
As discussions progress, calls are growing for legal amendments enabling these secondhand assets to be provided without charge or at low cost. Leveraging self-defense forces’ decommissioned equipment to bolster allies’ defense capabilities can strengthen mutual deterrence and response capacity, which is expected to contribute to regional security stability.
Among nations sharing similar values, secondhand equipment from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces has attracted significant attention. The Philippines is considering acquiring the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s “Abukuma-class” patrol vessels, which have served over 30 years (planned for phased retirement). If exported, this would mark the first instance. Indonesia reportedly also shows interest in acquiring secondhand “Kinshu-class” submarines. However, a major challenge remains: “Most countries lack the financial capacity to purchase secondhand equipment at high prices” (a senior official at the Ministry of Defense).
To support the revision of the three defense documents, the Liberal Democratic Party is compiling arguments for submission to the government, emphasizing that “the Self-Defense Forces’ weapons should be included in the category eligible for gratuitous transfer.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863499675353088/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author