Japan to consider air defense missile export amid push to ease transfer rules

Japan has held informal talks with the Philippines on the possible export of a surface-to-air missile system as the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moves to further relax the country’s restrictions on defense equipment transfer, sources familiar with the matter said Sunday. A substantive study on exporting the Japanese-developed Type-03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile is expected to start once the government formally decides to scrap a rule limiting defense equipment exports to five noncombat purposes, such as rescue and surveillance. The removal of the five-category limit has been among a set of pledges the ruling Liberal Democratic Party agreed…