In a major policy shift, Japan has abolished restrictions limiting military equipment transfers to five nonlethal categories, paving the way for the export of lethal weapons — a move that could help the country’s defense industry compete on the global stage.
Based on a proposal from the ruling coalition, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved the changes at a meeting on Tuesday, classifying defense equipment into two categories: “weapons,” or lethal systems such as warships, tanks and missiles, and “nonweapons,” or nonlethal equipment such as radars and protective gear.
Decisions on whether to export lethal weapons will be examined by the National Security Council, which includes the prime minister and relevant ministers, and be limited to countries that have defense equipment and tech transfer deals with Japan.
