Japan approves lifting ban on lethal arms exports as part of shift in its post-war pacifist policy

(Patria) - Japan today supported the lifting of the ban on lethal arms exports, a major change to its post-war pacifist policy, as the country seeks to build its arms industry and deepen cooperation with defense partners, AP reports.

The approval of new guidelines by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet removes the last set of obstacles to post-war arms sales by Japan.
The move comes as the country accelerates its military buildup in the face of growing security challenges in the region. While the policy change has met with criticism from China, it has been largely welcomed by Japan's defense partners such as Australia and has attracted interest from Southeast Asia and Europe.

Opponents say the change violates Japan's pacifist constitution and will increase global tensions and endanger the safety of the Japanese people.

The new policy would "ensure Japan's security and further contribute to peace and stability in the region and the international community, as the security environment around our country is rapidly changing," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters. "The government will strategically promote the transfer of defense equipment to create a security environment that is desirable for Japan and build an industrial base that can support resilience in combat."

Japan has long banned most arms exports under its post-war pacifist constitution. It has recently made changes due to growing global and regional tensions, but exports were limited to five areas: rescue, transport, alert, surveillance, and mine clearance.

The new guideline lifts those restrictions and allows the export of equipment such as fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers – a major change from existing exports such as body armor, gas masks, and civilian vehicles that Japan sent to Ukraine, and intelligence radars sold to the Philippines.

Exports will, for now, be limited to seventeen countries that have signed agreements on the transfer of defense equipment and technology with Japan. They must also be approved by the National Security Council, and the government will subsequently monitor how the weapons are managed.

In principle, Japan will still not export lethal weapons to countries at war.
In 2014, Japan began exporting some non-lethal military supplies, and in December 2023, it approved a change that would allow the sale of dozens of lethal weapons and components manufactured under licenses from other countries to the licensors, such as the United States.

An earlier easing in 2023 was intended to pave the way for Japan to sell US-designed Patriot missiles to America to compensate for what Washington sent to Ukraine. The revision was also intended to pave the way for Japan to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet with the United Kingdom and Italy.

In its largest deal ever, Japan last week formalized an agreement to supply the first three of a $6.5 billion fleet of Japanese-designed frigates for the Australian Navy and to jointly build eight others in that country.

Due to its wartime past and devastating defeat, Japan adopted a constitution that limits its military to self-defense and has long maintained strict control over arms exports, while relying heavily on the US military presence in the region and importing expensive US arsenals.

The domestic defense industry was long intended only for the Self-Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense, making it an unattractive sector that did not contribute to profits or corporate image.

That is changing. The government has increased funding for startups and academic research.

The defense industry has been listed as one of seventeen strategic growth areas under the current government, and an increasing number of large companies and startups are showing interest, particularly in dual-use goods and drones.