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. The removal of the five-category limit has been among a set of pledges the ruling Liberal Democratic Party agreed to work on with the Japan Innovation Party in forming a coalition, which paved the way for LDP chief Takaichi to become prime minister in late October. Some LDP members speculate that having parted with the longstanding coalition ally, the Komeito party, which takes a dovish stance on defense issues, and instead teaming up with the JIP, which is pursuing conservative agendas in security issues, would mean "no one will put the brake on" the policy shift.