Tokyo, June 5 (AHN) Japan and Indonesia, on Friday, agreed to begin working-level talks on the possible export of Asagari-class destroyers to Indonesia as Tokyo continues to ramp up defence cooperation with like-minded countries, local media reported.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defence, the agreement was reached between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin during their talks held in Tokyo.

“Japan has been seeking to deepen defence equipment cooperation, including with security partners such as the Philippines and New Zealand, since easing restrictions on the export of lethal weapons in April,” Japan’s leading Kyodo news agency reported.

According to the ministry, Indonesia voiced its intention to advance cooperation in defence equipment and technology, which includes the potential transfer of the general-purpose Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyers.

“On June 5, DM Koizumi met with DM Sjafrie of Indonesia, and agreed to start discussions in the working group on defence equipment and technology cooperation, including the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers and other equipment. They agreed to further strengthen Japan-Indonesia cooperation,” Japan's Ministry of Defence wrote on X.

The two ministers decided to discuss the matter through a working-level framework, which was established in May.

Last month, Koizumi pitched for the possible export of Japan’s advanced Mogami-class frigate to New Zealand. The proposal was made during the first trilateral meeting with his New Zealand and Australian counterparts, Chris Penk and Richard Marles, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue regional security forum in Singapore.

During the meeting, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to closer defence cooperation following the recent easing of Tokyo's rules governing defence equipment exports.

"We'll move forward with discussions on a defence equipment transfer agreement with New Zealand," Koinumi said to reporters after the meeting, referring to a deal that would enable Japan to export frigates to New Zealand.

"I told them that if New Zealand were to select our vessel, it would not only deepen defence cooperation between Japan and New Zealand but could also improve interoperability and operational compatibility among the three countries," Koizumi noted.

In April, Japan and Australia said that they had signed the contracts to jointly deliver three of the 11 ships for the Australian Navy. These ships are based on the upgraded Mogami-class frigate of Japan.

–AHN

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