Japan will ease decades-old arms export rules, the government's top spokesman Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday, opening the way for exports of warships, ⁠missiles and other weapons.

"With this partial revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology and related rules, it has now become possible, in principle, to permit the transfer of defence equipment, including all finished products," he said.

The move aimed at strengthening Japan's defence industrial base marks another step away from pacifist restraints that have shaped its postwar security policy.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi argues that Japan must relax its rules on weapons exports to bolster national defence while also trying to boost the domestic arms industry as a driver of economic growth.

She posted on X on Tuesday: "Until now, the overseas transfer of domestically produced finished products had been limited to search and rescue, transportation, surveillance, mine countermeasures [so-called "five categories"], but with this amendment, transfers of all defence equipment will in principle become possible."

Proponents of the policy shift argue that the change should further integrate Tokyo in the international defence supply chain, deepening defence, diplomatic and economic ties with partner nations as regional instability heightens.

Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are also straining US weapons production, expanding opportunities for Japan. At the same time, US allies in Europe and Asia are looking to diversify supply as Washington's long-held security commitments look less certain under President Donald Trump.

Japanese officials and diplomats have said that countries ranging from Poland to the Philippines are exploring procurement opportunities ⁠as they modernise their forces. One of the first deals could be the ⁠export of used warships to ⁠Manila, two of the sources said.

The changes approved by Takaichi's government remove five export categories that had limited most military exports to rescue, transport, warning, ⁠surveillance and minesweeping equipment. Ministers and officials will ‌instead assess the merits of each proposed sale.

The three export principles that Kihara referred to commit Japan to strict screening, controls on transfers ‌to third countries and a ban on sales to countries involved in conflict. But in a presentation outlining ⁠the changes, the government said exceptions could be made when deemed necessary for national security.

Japan hopes such defence exports will strengthen its industrial base by boosting production volumes, lowering per-unit costs and adding manufacturing capacity it ‌could draw on in a military crisis.

Contractors such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries can build advanced systems including submarines, fighter aircraft and missiles, but for decades have relied on small orders from a single customer, Japan's Self-Defence Forces.

Japan is pressing ahead with unprecedented efforts to bolster its military – buying missiles, stealth ⁠jets and ‌drones it says are needed to deter any threat.

The decision to overhaul defence export rules has, however, caused unease among the Japanese public, with critics accusing Takaichi of eroding the proud history of the nation's staunch pacifism. (AFP & Reuters)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden