MANILA — The Philippines can now directly purchase military equipment from Japan following Tokyo’s easing of restrictions on defense technology transfers, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

Teodoro said Japan is no longer as constrained in transferring defense equipment, opening the door for broader defense trade between the two countries.

“Pero ngayon puwede rin tayong bumili ng defense equipment sa kanila kasi hindi na sila constrained mag-transfer. Pero may guidelines iyan. Kailangan aligned ang bansa sa kanila at nangingilala ng parehong prinsipyo sa ilalim ng international law (But now, we also buy defense equipment from them as they are no longer constrained to transfer. But there are guidelines and the countries should be aligned and recognize the same principles in international law),” he said in a chance interview with reporters after meeting Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Makati City.

Teodoro was referring to Japan’s revised “Three Principles on The Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology” and its implementation guidelines, which now allow the export of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Previously, Japan was limited to exporting defense equipment only under five non-combat categories: rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping.

With the policy shift, Teodoro said the Philippines is looking forward to deeper cooperation with Japan, particularly in joint production and procurement of defense equipment.

Given Japan’s advanced industrial and technological capabilities, he said partnerships could provide “higher value in scope at lower cost.”

During the meeting, the two defense officials signed a “Statement on the Further Promotion of Defense Equipment and Technology” along with its implementation guidelines.

Teodoro also said the Philippines is already acquiring domain awareness systems from Japan, either through transfers or direct purchase.

“We are already acquiring domain awareness equipment from them, whether by transfer or by purchase. And it stands to reason that it’s reasonable because you have to have one picture in either your air domain or your sea domain that we converge in one data system. It’s very important, even for operational security,” he said.