TOKYO, April 21 — Japan unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.
The move aims to strengthen Japan's defence industrial base and marks another step away from pacifist restraints that have shaped its postwar security policy.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are also straining the United States (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 told Reuters that countries ranging from Poland to the Philippines are exploring procurement opportunities as they modernise their forces. Two of the sources said that one of the first deals could be the export of used warships to Manila.
The changes approved by Prime Minister Sanae 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.
Japan will maintain three export principles that commit it 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 also building up its own military
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.
The country is pressing ahead with unprecedented efforts to bolster its military: buying missiles, stealth jets and drones it says are needed to deter any threat posed by neighbouring China to its territory, including around islands along the edge of the East China Sea near Taiwan.
Beijing has said its intentions in East Asia and elsewhere are peaceful.
Tokyo is also developing a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in the mid-2030s, part of a strategy to share development costs and gain access to new technology.
Japan has steadily increased defence spending in recent years to two per cent of its gross domestic product, and Takaichi's government is expected to announce further rises this year when it releases a new security strategy.
