The Japanese government moved on Tuesday to allow the sale of more weapons abroad, in the latest shift away from pacifist policies imposed after World War II, as it grapples with rising security threats from China and a rapidly changing global order.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her top officials, at a meeting in Tokyo, reversed longstanding limits on the sale of Japan-made weapons overseas. The move comes days after Japan welcomed more than 30 NATO envoys for a visit meant to show stronger ties, and after Tokyo sealed a $6.5 billion deal to supply warships to Australia.
Ms. Takaichi said in a post on X that the change was necessary in an “increasingly challenging security environment.”
“No single country can now protect its own peace and security alone,” she said.
Ms. Takaichi, an outspoken critic of Beijing who rose to power last year, is seeking to shore up Japan’s defense industry and to build a more diverse network of allies, with increasing uncertainty over the reliability of its main partner, the United States. Japan hopes that easing the export rules can help strengthen deterrence in the region by showing China, North Korea and Russia that democratic countries around the Pacific are building a global arms supply chain.
The changes approved on Tuesday will unfetter defense contractors, allowing them to sell lethal weapons systems to 17 countries. That will permit Japan to provide advanced frigates to the Philippines, for example, or submarines to Indonesia. But Japan will still prohibit the transfer of lethal weapons to countries in active combat, unless top officials determine that national security is at stake.
The wars in Iran and Ukraine have strained munitions stockpiles around the world, stoking fears that American allies could be vulnerable to attacks. While experts said that Japan’s decision might not do much to address near-term shortages — it will take time to build up production — it could help replenish global supplies in the long term.
