Japanese media: The Japanese government is attempting to covertly alter the scope of weapons exports
In 2014, Japan revised its long-standing adherence to the "Three Principles of Arms Exports" since the end of World War II to the "Three Principles of Defense Equipment Transfer", significantly relaxing the conditions for exporting Japanese weapons, equipment, and military technology to the outside world, and the momentum of Japan's arms exports began to accelerate.
According to Kyodo News Agency, an insider revealed on the 25th that the Japanese government has told the ruling party that although Japan has strict regulations on weapon exports, exporting non combat vehicles and ships equipped with lethal weapons does not violate the law.
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![Japanese media: The Japanese government is attempting to covertly alter the scope of weapons exports](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/28f595b62f60eee27dd3c2a68da01832.jpg)
Kyodo News quoted sources as saying that the Japanese government's examples of such products include Japanese Self Defense Force reconnaissance vehicles equipped with automatic guns and minesweepers. Sources quoted the Japanese government as saying that Japan can export equipment to countries with security cooperation, as long as these equipment are used for rescue, transportation, surveillance, or mine clearance.
Kyodo News reported that according to Japan's previous explanation, defense equipment carrying lethal weapons cannot be exported except for joint development and production. But according to sources, the Japanese government explained to the Liberal Democratic Party and ruling coalition's Komeito Party at a meeting in May that lethal defense equipment may be used for export because there is no clear legal ban. Japanese Defense Minister Yasuki Hamada stated that since the implementation guidelines of the Three Principles do not mention this issue, the Japanese government will decide whether lethal weapons can be transferred "based on specific circumstances". Kyodo News Agency analyzed that the Japanese government attempted to secretly change the scope of weapon exports without informing the Japanese people.
Against the backdrop of Western countries strengthening their military support for Ukraine, the extent to which Japan may expand the range of transferable equipment has become a focus of external attention. In March of this year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to modify the provisions of the "Three Principles for the Transfer of Defense Equipment" that restrict the transfer of weapons to Ukraine.
![Japanese media: The Japanese government is attempting to covertly alter the scope of weapons exports](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/9fa874959320b48807ea69c10c015cf2.jpg)