IN BRIEF (Page 11)

THE PHILIPPINES

Japan to deliver coast guard ships

Japan and the Philippines have begun talks for the transfer of two large coast guard ships to Manila, a Japanese foreign ministry official said on Friday, as part of a deal on defense equipment. The two brand-new 90-meter multi-role response vessels will be in addition to 10 mid-sized 44-meter coast guard ships, worth $188.52 million, that Japan is set to start delivering next week.