Japan's Defense Minister Visits Philippines to Discuss Ship Transfer; Scholar: Aimed at China
Japan's Defense Minister is set to visit the Philippines to discuss the free transfer of a decommissioned frigate. A Chinese scholar suggests this move is aimed at deterring China and turning the South China Sea into a front-line base for containing China.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 11:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 11:32 (19 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Qian, Hong Kong, 4th) Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will visit the Philippines tomorrow to discuss the gratuitous transfer of a secondhand Japanese "Abukuma" class frigate to the Philippines. A Chinese scholar believes that Japan's move is aimed at China, turning the South China Sea into a front-line position to contain China.
Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily reported today that Japan has been making frequent moves to relax its military posture and intends to intervene in the South China Sea. Shinjiro Koizumi began his Asian tour yesterday and will visit the Philippines tomorrow to discuss the gratuitous transfer of a secondhand Japanese "Abukuma" class frigate to the Philippines. This is the first case after the Japanese Takaichi Sanae government cabinet lifted the ban on exporting lethal equipment last month.
The report stated that Japan has been getting closer to the Philippines recently. In mid-April, after the Takaichi Sanae government abolished the decades-old ban on exporting lethal equipment, Japanese media disclosed just five days later that the government planned to revise the "Self-Defense Forces Law" to add special provisions allowing the gratuitous or low-cost provision of lethal equipment to other countries, paving the way for military aid and sales, with the Philippines as the target.
According to analysis, many of the Philippine Navy's active ships are old equipment retired by the United States in the last century, and their combat effectiveness varies. Although the "Abukuma" class frigate that Japan intends to transfer has been in service for more than 30 years, it still has a significant technological advantage for the Philippines, which can immediately strengthen the Philippines' patrol and confrontation capabilities in the South China Sea.
The report quoted Professor Cao Xing of the Department of International Politics at China University of Political Science and Law as saying, "Why the Philippines? The answer is simple, because there have always been frictions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Japan's decision to send weapons to the Philippines at this time and in this way is an open secret."
Cao Xing stated that Japan, as an external country, gratuitously sending frigates to countries around the South China Sea, deliberately exaggerates the narrative of so-called "containing China." "How is this defense cooperation? It is clearly to cheer on the Philippines and provoke regional confrontation."
Cao Xing also said that it is more important to be vigilant that Japan is testing the waters for establishing a regional arms export system; besides the Philippines, Indonesia has also shown interest in Japanese secondhand submarines. Japan may intend to bind more countries around the South China Sea into its defense cooperation network through "cheap or even free" means, turning the South China Sea into a front-line position to contain China. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150504
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(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Qian, Hong Kong, 4th) Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi will visit the Philippines tomorrow to discuss the gratuitous transfer of a secondhand Japanese "Abukuma" class frigate to the Philippines. A Chinese scholar believes that Japan's move is aimed at China, turning the South China Sea into a front-line position to contain China.
Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily reported today that Japan has been making frequent moves to relax its military posture and intends to intervene in the South China Sea. Shinjiro Koizumi began his Asian tour yesterday and will visit the Philippines tomorrow to discuss the gratuitous transfer of a secondhand Japanese "Abukuma" class frigate to the Philippines. This is the first case after the Japanese Takaichi Sanae government cabinet lifted the ban on exporting lethal equipment last month.
The report stated that Japan has been getting closer to the Philippines recently. In mid-April, after the Takaichi Sanae government abolished the decades-old ban on exporting lethal equipment, Japanese media disclosed just five days later that the government planned to revise the "Self-Defense Forces Law" to add special provisions allowing the gratuitous or low-cost provision of lethal equipment to other countries, paving the way for military aid and sales, with the Philippines as the target.
According to analysis, many of the Philippine Navy's active ships are old equipment retired by the United States in the last century, and their combat effectiveness varies. Although the "Abukuma" class frigate that Japan intends to transfer has been in service for more than 30 years, it still has a significant technological advantage for the Philippines, which can immediately strengthen the Philippines' patrol and confrontation capabilities in the South China Sea.
The report quoted Professor Cao Xing of the Department of International Politics at China University of Political Science and Law as saying, "Why the Philippines? The answer is simple, because there have always been frictions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Japan's decision to send weapons to the Philippines at this time and in this way is an open secret."
Cao Xing stated that Japan, as an external country, gratuitously sending frigates to countries around the South China Sea, deliberately exaggerates the narrative of so-called "containing China." "How is this defense cooperation? It is clearly to cheer on the Philippines and provoke regional confrontation."
Cao Xing also said that it is more important to be vigilant that Japan is testing the waters for establishing a regional arms export system; besides the Philippines, Indonesia has also shown interest in Japanese secondhand submarines. Japan may intend to bind more countries around the South China Sea into its defense cooperation network through "cheap or even free" means, turning the South China Sea into a front-line position to contain China. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150504
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
No text, images, or audio on this website may be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.