How Japan aims to convert ageing warships into leverage to counter China

Japan is exploring the idea of transferring its aging warships to key regional partners like the Philippines and Indonesia as a strategic move to bolster security ties and counterbalance China's growing influence in the region. This approach aligns with Tokyo's broader strategy of expanding security assistance through equipment, training, maintenance, and interoperability, without imposing specific alignments against Beijing.

Observers argue that this tactic fits into Japan's toolkit for strengthening partner capabilities and forging long-term defense relationships.

For instance, the Philippines is expected to receive five Abukuma-class destroyers within the next two to three years, while Indonesia is in talks to transfer Asagiri-class destroyers, the first of which was retired in March after 38 years of service. Japan's National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS) suggests that Tokyo could expand the pool of equipment available for such transfers by retiring even older, less critical vessels early to maintain necessary defense capabilities.

As Japan introduces advanced, automated, and unmanned systems, some older platforms might become less critical to the Japan Self-Defence Forces structure before their planned service lives end. This could further enhance the availability of equipment for transfer to regional partners.

While retiring equipment is a part of this strategy, Japan also employs the Official Security Assistance framework, a grant-based military aid program launched in 2023. This program has been expanded from a budget of 2 billion yen in 2023 to 18.1 billion yen this year and focuses on providing equipment and infrastructure to partner countries, with maritime security being a key priority.

Both the Philippines and Indonesia are among the beneficiaries, reflecting Japan's efforts to strengthen allies along strategically important waterways.

Japan's evolving strategy, aimed at countering China's rising influence through preserving the regional status quo, has seen an increase in arms transfers as a foreign policy tool. This aligns with Japan's goal of strengthening defense cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners to deter Chinese expansion, positioning Japan as a central player in emerging bilateral and minilateral defense networks.