The defense chiefs of Japan and the Philippines have agreed to establish a new body involving key officials from both countries, in a move expected to pave the way for an “early transfer” of used Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) warships to Manila.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, speaking after a meeting Tuesday with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in Manila, said the new working group was part of a wide-ranging framework to further promote defense equipment and technology cooperation.
“We agreed to establish a working group bringing together the policy, operational and the equipment divisions of the defense authorities of both countries,” Koizumi told a news conference.?
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