CDP Clarifies Opposition to Exports of Lethal Weapons

Tokyo, Dec. 21 (Jiji Press)–A senior member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on Sunday clarified the party’s stance against the envisioned abolition of the rules limiting the export of defense equipment to five categories, including equipment for rescue and transportation. “Scrapping the five-category rules would mean allowing the export of lethal weapons, which basically has not been accepted,” former Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada of the CDP said in a television program. “The rules should not be altered,” he stressed. Itsunori Onodera, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Research Commission on Security, said that the ruling bloc will draw up its proposals on the issue in February at the earliest. “It’s important to deepen discussions on what restrictions are necessary and what situations would allow the provision (of defense equipment to other countries),” Onodera noted. Seiji Maehara, security panel head of the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), the LDP’s coalition partner, also underscored the necessity of reviewing the five-category rules. The rules “could weaken Japan’s defense industry and prevent Japan from cooperating proactively with friendly countries,” Maehara argued. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]