Japan Leverages Changes in Security Environment to Lift Arms Sales Ban

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took advantage of what Takaichi sees as “the most complicated, severest security environment in the post-World War II period” to give the go-ahead for the country’s arms exports. Previous administrations maintained a ban on exports of weapons, such as tanks and fighter planes, under the three principles of overseas defense equipment transfer. But the Takaichi government has significantly eased arms sale rules against the Japanese Constitution’s pacifist ideology, critics said. Explaining the major shift in the postwar national security policy, a senior Defense Ministry official said Japan can use weapons exports as “a key tool to build trust” with like-minded countries. “Cooperation with like-minded countries is becoming more important” as China, North Korea and Russia are stepping up coercive actions around Japan while U.S. President Donald Trump is attaching less importance to allies, the official noted. At a press conference on Tuesday, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the changes to the defense equipment transfer principles and operational guidelines “will help our ally (the United States) and like-minded countries strengthen their deterrence and response capabilities and will also enable Japanese companies to acquire higher production potential.” He also touted the effectiveness of arms exports as a measure to make the domestic defense industry’s manufacturing and technical bases strong enough to sustain the country’s ability to continue fighting. Under the revised principles and rules, the Takaichi administration conditions conclusion of a bilateral defense equipment and technology transfer treaty on exports of lethal weapons. Currently, there are 17 signatories to the pact. It also hammered out the policy of enhancing monitoring of exported weapons to prevent their use for purposes that are not originally intended. But strong concerns over the revision derailing Japan from the track of pacifism remains, despite Takaichi’s emphasis on plans to strictly screening potential deals and appropriately manage transactions. Even in the United States, arms exports are not permitted if Congress adopts a joint resolution banning them. But the Takaichi government rejected the opposition camp’s request for mandating advance parliamentary approval for such exports instead of post-sale reporting. A member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as well, expressed worries over the eased arms sale rules rather helping promote regional conflicts. Still, the Takaichi administration intends to strengthen its function to control weapon sales, as part of its growth strategy. “Japanese defense equipment is evaluated as high quality and we have already received inquiries,” a government official said. The Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand are said to be interested in used military vessels, used submarines and destroyers, respectively. On Tuesday, however, three members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force died in a shell explosion in one of its most advanced tanks during drills in Oita Prefecture. “The accident occurred at the worst possible time,” a Defense Ministry source said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]