By Robina Asido

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro announced the potential transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers and TC-90 aircraft to the Philippines following the signing of a "Statement" to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries as Japan eased rules on overseas transfer of military equipment last month.

The "Statement on the Further Promotion of Defense Equipment and Technology Cooperation" was signed by Koizumi and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. after the defense ministerial meeting in Makati City on Tuesday.

In his speech, Koizumi said through the signed "Statement", the two defense ministers "agreed to establish a working group bringing together the policy, operational, and equipment divisions of the defense authorities of both countries."

"We also agreed to move forward with discussions aimed at realizing comprehensive equipment cooperation, including education and training, maintenance and sustainment, operational coordination, information sharing, and the proper management of transferred equipment, with a view to the early transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers and TC-90 aircraft, as well as other defense equipment," he said.

As he welcomed the transfer of the defense equipment, Teodoro also noted the need for the Philippine Navy "to fast-track their construction of adequate berthing and port facilities, and to have the additional maintenance and sustainment capacity to make sure" that the defense equipment "does not become an oyster bed in the future."

"Well, we look forward to them. The TC-90 has already been transferred, right? So if there are additional ones, you know, that's something that we look forward to since the Navy already has the expertise for it, which we want to upgrade too," he said.

"Now, for the Abukuma class, I'll wait until it happens, but hopefully I want to see it happen very, very soon," he added.

Teodoro said both the Philippines and Japan are "working on the finer details" of the transfer.

"We agree in principle to whatever the Japanese are willing to transfer to us," he said.

"There are working groups already finalizing the details of potential transfers," Teodoro added.

He also thanked Japan for its review of the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology and its implementing guidelines noting that the Philippines is "very happy to work with Japan in creating demonstrable results at the soonest possible time." Robina Asido/PHS