Japan’s LDP Eyes Exports of Lethal Arms in Principle

Tokyo, Feb. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to call for allowing the export of lethal arms in principle by scrapping current rules limiting the scope of defense equipment transfers, a draft proposal showed Tuesday. Describing the change as a “major shift” in Japan’s defense policy, the draft proposal calls on the Japanese government to provide the public with extensive explanations on the move. The LDP is expected to formally approve the draft proposal at a meeting of its Research Commission on Security on Wednesday. The proposal will then be submitted to the government in early March. The government currently limits the scope of defense equipment exports to five categories–rescue, transport, reconnaissance, surveillance and minesweeping. The proposal will call for abolishing the export restrictions. Defense equipment, instead, will be classified into arms, such as fighter jets and destroyers, and non-arms equipment, such as bulletproof vests, according to the draft. Destinations of Japan’s arms exports will be restricted to countries with which Japan has reached agreements concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology. Such transfers will not be allowed in principle for nations facing ongoing armed conflicts, but may be permitted under special circumstances involving Japan’s national security, the draft said. Japan’s National Security Council, attended by the prime minister and relevant ministers, will decide whether to approve defense equipment exports. The draft proposal seeks a stricter screening of defense equipment transfers from the viewpoint of Japan’s defense capabilities and the impact on Self-Defense Forces operations. It also calls for discussions on ways to offer in-depth explanations to the Diet, Japans parliament, and the public. The current rules requiring cabinet approval will be maintained on exports to third countries of the next-generation fighters co-developed by Japan, Britain and Italy. No restrictions will be established for transfer destinations of non-arms equipment. The government plans to launch full-scale discussions on revising operational guidelines for the country’s three principles on defense equipment transfers, after receiving the proposal. Tokyo also eyes an option to make such changes before a planned summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump on March 19. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]