Philippines to get 5 used destroyers from Japan: defense secretary

MANILA - The Philippines expects to acquire five soon-to-be-retired Japanese destroyers, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro recently said, calling it a "sign of goodwill" from Tokyo as the two countries have strengthened security ties in recent years amid China's maritime assertiveness in the region.

The announcement of a broad agreement with Japan on the transfer of Abukuma-class destroyers came after the two countries' leaders agreed at talks in Tokyo in May to accelerate discussions on defense equipment transfers, following Japan's relaxation of its arms export rules to allow shipments of lethal weapons.