Japans Arms Industry Faces Uncertainty After Trump Trust Loss

Japan Eases Arms Export Rules Amid Shift in Defence Policy

Tokyo has announced changes to its arms export regulations, marking a significant shift in the country’s pacifist foreign policy stance that has been in place for nearly eight decades. The move comes as Japan seeks to expand its defence exports and strengthen its military capabilities.

The new rules allow Japanese defence companies to supply arms to other nations, following a record-high defence budget of over 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) approved last year. The budget increase reflects Japan’s efforts to strengthen its military and coastal defences amid rising global tensions.

Under the revised regulations, more than 970 billion yen ($6.2 billion) is earmarked for enhancing Japan’s “standoff” missile capabilities, including the purchase of domestically produced and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles. The Japanese government has also stated that it may need to become militarily involved if China were to invade Taiwan.

The changes in arms export rules are expected to benefit Japanese defence companies, with key contractors such as Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric hiring staff and adding capacity to capitalize on demand for arms. Countries like the Philippines and Poland are likely to be among the first customers of Japanese arms.

In recent years, Japan has taken steps to reduce its military dependence on the US, aiming to build defence supply chains in Asia that do not rely on the US at all. The country’s new policy shift is also seen as a response to China’s expanding military presence in the region and its claims over Taiwan.

The changes in arms export rules are part of a broader effort by Japan to strengthen its security policy and reduce its reliance on the US. The move marks a significant shift in the country’s stance on defence exports, which had been largely isolated from the global arms markets since World War II.

Source: Al Jazeera