Japan said to be considering missile exports to Philippines

Japan’s Defence Ministry is considering exports of surface-to-ship missiles to the Philippines, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on May 15, as Tokyo adopts a more assertive regional security role amid concern about China.

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Japan in April unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.

Beijing has expressed displeasure about Tokyo’s new efforts in defence, with bilateral relations at a particularly low ebb since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival could trigger a military response.