Philippines Progresses Japanese Destroyer Transfer Talks, Receives American Cutter at Shangri-La

The Philippines is set to receive transfers of American and Japanese vessels to bolster its Coast Guard and Navy fleets operating in the South China Sea. American and Japanese defense officials pledged to reinforce Manila’s fleet with recently and soon-to-be decommissioned vessels over the weekend following talks on the sidelines of the International Institute of Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore held Friday to Sunday. In separate talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro highlighted recent military training events and transfer plans. Amid tensions with Beijing