Japan and Indonesia to begin talks on exporting Asagiri-class destroyers

Japan and Indonesia have agreed to kick off working-level talks on the export of Asagiri-class destroyers to Jakarta, the latest move by Tokyo to transfer defense equipment to like-minded partners.

The Defense Ministry said Friday that Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi had held talks in Tokyo with his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, with the two welcoming progress made at a working-level group established last month following Japan's recent easing of rules governing military equipment transfers.

The ministry said that Sjafrie had stated a desire to "cement defense equipment and technology cooperation, including via the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers," with both ministers agreeing to begin discussions within the working group on after-export "training, maintenance and operational aspects."

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