Japan eyes export of used destroyers to Philippines
The Japanese Government hopes that the transfer of used destroyers to the Philippines will qualify as a form of defence cooperation, as the ships would be modified to meet the specific operational needs of the Philippine side.
Hanoi (VNA) - Kyodo News, citing informed sources on July 6, reported that Japan is considering exporting used Mari꧃time Self-Defense Force destroyers🍃 to the Philippines, amid growing security cooperation between the two countries.
Japanese Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro discussed the plan when they met in Singapore in June, the Japanese source said.
Japan currently adheres to strict guidelines governing the overseas transfer of defence equipment and technology, limiting the export of lethal weapons in line with its pacifist Constitution. However, these restrictions do not apply to joint development or co-production projects with other countries.
The Japanese Government hopes that the transfer of used destroyers to the Philippines will qualify as a form of defence cooperation, as the ships would be modified to meet the specific operational needs of the Philippine side.
The vessel under consideration is the Abukuma-class escort destroyer, which has a standard displacement of 2,000 tonnes, a crew capacity of around 120, and is equipped with anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles, torpedo launchers, and naval guns.
Under its 2022 defence build-up programme, Japan plans to phase out ageing ships with limited upgrade potential./.
The two-week KAMANDAG exercise, jointly led by the Philippine and US Marine Corps, took place through June 13, drew the participation of the troops from the RoK and Japan, as well as personnel from nine other observer countries.
The agreement eases restrictions on the movement of personnel between the two nations' forces to facilitate joint drills and disaster relief operations, making the Philippines Japan's third RAA partner after Australia and the UK.
MITI said the decision to impose the duties, in the form of a bank guarantee and ranging from 3.86 to 57.90%, was made after preliminary investigations found sufficient evidence that these imports were brought into Malaysia at dumped prices.
The launching of the WebD platform is part of its efforts to combat illegal websites in Thailand. The platform uses AI technology to streamline the process of identifying and blocking illegal URLs, improving the speed and efficiency of the operation.
The new Thai Labour Minister's five policies include equipping Thai workers with AI skills by focusing on developing AI curricula aligned with the manufacturing and service sectors and providing all worker groups with skill training through cross-sector collaborations.
Hyper-competition in China's electric vehicle sector is spilling over to its biggest market in Asia, Thailand, as smaller players struggle to compete with dominant BYD, putting ambitious local production plans at risk.
Laos is home to over 500 fish species, which play a vital role in maintaining the country's ecological balance and represent an important part of its natural heritage. Each year, nationwide activities are held to raise public awareness, especially among young people, about the importance of conserving aquatic life and protecting ecosystems.
Mount Lewotobi, standing at 1,584 metres, last erupted in November 2024, claiming nine lives and displacing thousands. It is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes, as the country lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for intense tectonic and volcanic activity.
Ambassador Binh and other representatives highly appreciated the role of the ASEAN Chair - Malaysia - in coordinating and leading ASEAN cooperation to achieve many advances, gradually concretising the orientation of "inclusivity and sustainability".
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued an urgent weather alert for 33 provinces across the North, Northeast, Central and South, warning of flash floods, forest runoff, landslides and rising water levels in major rivers, particularly the Mekong, between July 6 and 12.
The project is a collaboration between the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy, the Directorate of Armament of the RTAF and the RTAF's Research and Development Centre for Space and Aeronautical Science and Technology.
In its article published on July 6, Reporte Asia stated that Vietnam has held key international roles, including ASEAN Chair in 1998, 2010, and 2020; the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forums in 2006 and 2017; and the member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2014–2016 and 2023–2025, demonstrating its commitment to dialogue and joint problem-solving.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin said the measure reflects ASEAN’s continued efforts to strengthen global commitment to the principle of nuclear non-proliferation and to make Southeast Asia a fully nuclear weapon-free zone.
The piece praised the dynamic momentum of the Vietnam – Brazil relationship, describing it as a vibrant symbol of South–South cooperation in an increasingly multipolar and competitive world.
According to the Brazilian government-run Planalto news site, during their talks on July 5 (local time), PM Chinh and President Lula da Silva celebrated the excellent status of the bilateral relations as well as the progress made since the latter’s state visit to Hanoi last April.
With a vibrant economy, a population nearing 100 million, and deep integration into global supply chains, Vietnam brings to Brazil the story of a nation that has evolved from isolation to becoming a trusted and active participant in shaping multilateral frameworks.
The primary consideration for granting visa-free entry to Brazil and Turkey is reciprocity, as both countries already offer visa-free entry to Indonesian citizens.
This is considered the second largest cumulative penalty imposed by MAS for breaches related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.
The sharp rise has raised concerns over a potentially severe forest and land fire season in one of Indonesia’s wildfire-prone regions over the past decade.
In the absence of a deal, Washington could impose a 36% tariff on all imports from Thailand as soon as July 9, compared with the 10% baseline tariff in effect now.
According to the official, the digital economy has played a key role in lifting the Thai economy. In the past five months, the value of digital exports tallied 860 billion THB (26.54 billion USD), up 35% year-on-year.
