Defense Ministry eyeing Japan’s entry into int’l weapons development
Nov. 1, 2010
The Defense Ministry is planning to partially relax ''three principles of weapons exports,'' the nation's virtual ban on arms exports, in a bid to reduce the cost of procuring state-of-the-art defense equipment and enhance Japan's contribution to international peace and humanitarian activities, a ministry-crafted plan showed Sunday.
The ministry is expecting the plan, featuring the proposal of Japan's participation in international projects to develop and produce weapons, to be reflected in the new National Defense Program Outline due to be adopted by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan at the end of the year, sources familiar with the matter said.
The three principles were established in 1967 when the Cabinet under then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato prohibited weapons exports to communist states and nations involved in international conflicts.
The principles were tightened later into a virtual total ban on weapons exports, with exceptions such as the supply of weapons technology to the United States.
Under the principles, Japan cannot participate in joint development and production of weapons with other countries because defense technology and parts are regarded as weapons. Japan therefore tends to pay high prices for the procurement of weaponry, especially fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft and other cutting-edge defense equipment.
According to the review plan distributed to defense-related lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, the ministry intends to seek exceptions to the principles for the sake of promoting Japan's international cooperation activities, reinforcing the Japan-U.S. alliance and upgrading Japan's defense capability.
Specifically, the proposal on the participation in joint weapon development projects aims at securing interoperability with the United States and other allies, in addition to cutting procurement costs.
The ministry will also call for allowing exports of weapons, produced in Japan under licenses from other countries, to the license holders and for introducing ''offset deals'' that will permit the addition of made-in-Japan parts to imported weapons.
While Japan at present provides defense equipment to disaster-affected countries on an exceptional basis, the ministry stresses the need to allow such a supply on a comprehensive basis in order to facilitate Japan's contribution to international cooperation activities.
The review, particularly the envisioned entry into joint development and production of weapons, will mark a turning point in Japan's defense policy, and may face criticism that it is against the three principles which aim at avoiding the acceleration of international conflicts.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on Nov.1, 2010)
The ministry is expecting the plan, featuring the proposal of Japan's participation in international projects to develop and produce weapons, to be reflected in the new National Defense Program Outline due to be adopted by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan at the end of the year, sources familiar with the matter said.
The three principles were established in 1967 when the Cabinet under then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato prohibited weapons exports to communist states and nations involved in international conflicts.
The principles were tightened later into a virtual total ban on weapons exports, with exceptions such as the supply of weapons technology to the United States.
Under the principles, Japan cannot participate in joint development and production of weapons with other countries because defense technology and parts are regarded as weapons. Japan therefore tends to pay high prices for the procurement of weaponry, especially fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft and other cutting-edge defense equipment.
According to the review plan distributed to defense-related lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, the ministry intends to seek exceptions to the principles for the sake of promoting Japan's international cooperation activities, reinforcing the Japan-U.S. alliance and upgrading Japan's defense capability.
Specifically, the proposal on the participation in joint weapon development projects aims at securing interoperability with the United States and other allies, in addition to cutting procurement costs.
The ministry will also call for allowing exports of weapons, produced in Japan under licenses from other countries, to the license holders and for introducing ''offset deals'' that will permit the addition of made-in-Japan parts to imported weapons.
While Japan at present provides defense equipment to disaster-affected countries on an exceptional basis, the ministry stresses the need to allow such a supply on a comprehensive basis in order to facilitate Japan's contribution to international cooperation activities.
The review, particularly the envisioned entry into joint development and production of weapons, will mark a turning point in Japan's defense policy, and may face criticism that it is against the three principles which aim at avoiding the acceleration of international conflicts.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on Nov.1, 2010)
