BBC Chinese recently reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines reached an agreement on the technical transfer of defense equipment. The agreement will clear the way for Japan to supply the Japanese Army’s second-hand equipment, such as airplanes, to the Philippines. The two countries decided to accelerate their cooperation due to China’s speedy progress of expansion in the South China Sea. Japan also agreed to “actively study” the request from the Philippines who asked for the supply of large patrol boats. Japan is in the process of providing the Philippines with TC-90 training aircraft, which can be equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance radar. In the future, Japan may also provide U.S.-made second-hand P-3C anti-submarine patrol aircraft. The Philippines is on the path to allowing Japanese airplanes and vessels to use the Philippines’ military bases. In the meantime, Japan is currently manufacturing 10 patrol boats for the Philippine Coast Guard.
Source: BBC Chinese, November 19, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world/2015/11/151119_japan_philippines_defence