Be vigilant! Japan's attempt to break through this restricted zone weapons | equipment | restricted zone
According to a report by Tokyo News on June 18th, a new explanation has recently emerged that Japan can also export weapons of destruction according to current rules.
According to reports, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party are promoting consultations with the ruling party to explore relaxing necessary conditions regarding the "Three Principles of Defense Equipment Transfer" that regulate the export rules of defense equipment. The goal of the Liberal Democratic Party is to lift the ban on equipment exports, based on the lack of clear provisions in current rules prohibiting the export of weapons. The Liberal Democratic Party is gaining momentum, while the Komeito Party is maintaining a cautious stance.
Former Defense Minister of the Liberal Democratic Party, Onodeji Wudian, was surprised to say, "Equipment that was originally thought to have lethal capabilities cannot be transferred." Several Defense Ministry officials said, "I really don't know if there is such an explanation."
The report suggests that if the ban on arms exports is lifted, it will mean a significant shift in Japan's policies implemented since the war.
The report points out that based on the pacifist concept of the constitution, the Japanese government established the "Three Principles of Arms Exports" in the last century, which prohibit arms exports in principle. Afterwards, in view of the accumulation of special measures, the Abe government revised the principle to allow for the current rules of partial exports. According to the application guidelines, except for international joint research and production, the equipment allowed for export is limited to five categories: "rescue", "transportation", "alert", "surveillance", and "mine clearance".
For this reason, the traditional explanation is that even without provisions prohibiting the export of weapons, Japan cannot export "weapons" that kill life and damage objects, such as tanks, frigates, fighter jets, ammunition, etc., as stipulated in the Self Defense Force Law.
According to reports, the Kishida government revised its National Security Strategy last year, taking into account aid to Ukraine and other factors, and clearly proposed to re-examine the current rules. To discuss specific plans, the ruling party launched consultations in April, and a "new interpretation" came from the sky.
During the parliamentary review session this month, Defense Minister Yasuhiro Hamada explained the current rules, stating that "there was no mention of whether weapons with lethal capabilities could be transferred." In response, Japanese Communist Party Senator Takashi Yamamoto criticized, "We have always held a position that we cannot export, and this is an attempt to gradually expand in small pieces."
The report cites the words of Professor Aoi Uchifan, who participated in the writing of the "Three Principles of Defense Equipment Transfer," pointing out that Japan's long-standing adoption of the "Three Principles of Arms Export" is based on a pacifist constitution that advocates abandoning war and praying for world peace. After multiple deliberations by the National Assembly and listening to the voices of the people, it was established on this basis. After being changed to the "Three Principles for the Transfer of Defense Equipment," a few years later, the "new interpretation" regarding the "no ban on the export of lethal weapons" did not go through parliamentary review and was decided upon through closed door discussions between the government and the ruling party. Playing tricks to change the explanation and acknowledge the export of weapons of destruction is absolutely unacceptable.