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Japan will ease its decades-old restrictions on arms exports, government spokesman Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday, a move expected to pave the way for overseas sales of lethal weapons.
Kihara said a partial revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology, along with related rules, would, in principle, allow the transfer of defence equipment, including finished products.
“With this partial revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology and related rules, it has now become possible, in principle, to permit the transfer of defence equipment, including all finished products,” Kihara stated at a news conference.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has argued that loosening the export rules is necessary to strengthen Japan’s national defence and support the growth of the domestic arms industry as an economic driver.
In a post on social media, Takaichi said overseas transfers of Japanese-made finished defence products had previously been limited to five categories, including search and rescue, transportation, surveillance and mine countermeasures. She said the amendment would now make transfers of all defence equipment possible in principle.
“Until now, the overseas transfer of domestically produced finished products had been limited to search and rescue, transportation, surveillance, mine countermeasures (so-called “five categories”), but with this amendment, transfers of all defense equipment will in principle become possible.”
Supporters of the policy shift say it will help integrate Japan more deeply into the global defence supply chain while strengthening diplomatic, security and economic ties with partner nations despite rising regional tensions.
However, the move has sparked concern among some members of the public, with critics accusing Takaichi of undermining Japan’s long-standing pacifist tradition.
