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Japan expands arms exports beyond pacifist limits
Tokyo announced on Tuesday it will lift long-standing restrictions on weapons sales, allowing lethal arms transfers to 17 nations with which it holds defence agreements, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Policy shift reflects security concerns
The decision marks a significant departure from Japan's post-war pacifist stance, which had confined arms exports to five non-lethal categories: rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping equipment. While a ban on sales to nations engaged in active conflicts remains, authorities indicated exceptions could be made under "special circumstances."
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi framed the move as a response to a deteriorating security landscape, stating on X that "no single country can protect its own peace and security alone." She emphasized, however, that Japan's commitment to its pacifist principles, upheld since the end of World War II, remains unchanged.
"Under the new system, we will strategically promote equipment transfers while making even more rigorous and cautious judgments on whether transfers are permissible."
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
Regional reactions and historical tensions
China condemned the policy change, calling it "reckless militarisation" and vowing to "remain highly vigilant and resolutely opposed." Beijing's foreign ministry issued the statement during a routine briefing, coinciding with Japan's participation in joint military drills with the U.S. and the Philippines-its first as a combatant rather than an observer.
The exercises, held near waters claimed by China, including areas adjacent to Taiwan, have drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province. Last year, Takaichi sparked controversy by suggesting Japan could deploy its Self-Defence Forces in response to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan.
South Korea, which endured Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, urged Tokyo to align its defence policy with the "spirit of the Peace Constitution" while contributing to regional stability. The statement underscored lingering historical sensitivities between the two nations.
Pacifist constitution under scrutiny
Japan's post-war constitution, adopted in 1947, renounces war as a means of settling international disputes and prohibits maintaining a standing military. Article 9, the cornerstone of this pacifist framework, has faced growing pressure as regional threats from China, Russia, and North Korea intensify.
The shift in defence policy began in 2014 under then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who relaxed a blanket ban on military exports to permit joint arms development with allies. In 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida further eased restrictions, allowing exports of finished lethal weapons for the first time since World War II.
Takaichi has advocated for constitutional revision, though she has not specified proposed changes. Supporters argue Japan must adapt to a new security reality, while critics warn the moves risk entangling the country in foreign conflicts.
Defence industry implications
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara described the policy change as a measure to "safeguard Japan's security and contribute to regional peace and stability." The expanded export rules are expected to bolster Japan's defence industry by opening new markets and fostering technological collaboration with allies.
