Japan is set to take another step away from its long-standing limits on arms exports, a move analysts say will strengthen the domestic defence industry, spur innovation, deepen security ties and reduce Tokyo’s reliance on the US at a time when Washington is increasingly seen as a less reliable partner.
The Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday that revisions to the Three Principles on the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology would be approved at a cabinet meeting next week.
The changes would mark a further shift from Japan’s post-war restrictions on arms exports, first codified in 1967, to prohibit weapons transfers to communist bloc countries, nations subject to UN arms embargoes, or those involved in – or likely to be involved in – international conflict.
The principles were expanded in 1976 to effectively cover all areas of the world “in conformity with Japan’s position as a peace-loving nation”.
Given the sensitivity of the issue, the Yomiuri reported that the draft revisions would establish a mechanism to monitor the end-use of exported weapons and prevent their onward sale to third countries or transfer to terrorist groups.
Relaxing the rules would have far-reaching consequences, said William Yang, a Taiwan-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
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