Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. shake hands after a bilateral meeting in Manila on Tuesday. | AFP-JIJI

The defense chiefs of Japan and the Philippines on Tuesday agreed to establish a new body involving key officials from both countries, in a move that is expected to pave the way for an “early” transfer of secondhand Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) warships to Manila.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, speaking after a meeting with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Manila, said the two sides had reached a wide-ranging deal to further promote defense equipment and technology cooperation.

“We agreed to establish a working group bringing together the policy, operational and the equipment divisions of the defense authorities of both countries,” Koizumi told a news conference.

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