Japan to Sell More Weapons Abroad, Breaking With Postwar Pacifism

Key Points:

• The Japanese government has lifted longstanding restrictions on the overseas sale of Japan-made weapons, marking a significant shift from its post-World War II pacifist policies amid rising security concerns from China and global instability.
• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the need for this change due to an increasingly challenging security environment, highlighting that no country can ensure its own peace and security alone.
• The new policy allows defense contractors to sell lethal weapons systems to 17 countries, enabling exports such as advanced frigates to the Philippines and submarines to Indonesia, while maintaining restrictions on sales to countries engaged in active combat unless national security is at risk.
• This move follows Japan's efforts to strengthen its defense industry, diversify its alliances beyond the United States, and demonstrate a united deterrence front among democracies in the Pacific region against threats from China, North Korea, and Russia.
• Although the policy change may not immediately alleviate global munitions shortages caused by conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, it is expected to contribute to replenishing global arms supplies over the longer term.