New Delhi: In a far reaching move, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Tuesday lifted complete restrictions on arms exports, which were incorporated into Tokyo’s pacifist constitution since World War II.
This move means that Japan can now export both lethal and non-lethal weapons, a development that comes at a time when the global supply chain has been impacted by the war in West Asia and Europe and lower dependability on the American military.
Japan’s arms exports till now were confined to five areas: rescue, transport, surveillance, alert and minesweeping. The changes came amid armament supply chains getting stressed due to the ongoing wars.
“No single country can now protect its own peace and security alone, and partner countries that support each other in terms of defence equipment are necessary,” PM Takaichi said in a post on X.
本日、「防衛装備移転三原則」とその「運用指針」を改正しました。
これまで国産完成品の海外移転は、救難・輸送・警戒・監視・掃海（いわゆる「５類型」）に限定していましたが、今回の改正により、原則として全ての防衛装備品の移転が可能となります。…
— 高市早苗 (@takaichi_sanae) April 21, 2026
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that the new policy would ensure safety for Japan and further contribute to the peace and stability in the region and the international society as “the security environment around our country rapidly changes”.
The new guidelines will allow the export of equipment such as fighter jets, drones, missiles, destroyers, submarines unlike earlier when they exported only flak jackets, gas masks and civilian use vehicles to Ukraine and intelligence radar to the Philippines.
India and Japan are working on finalising the “co-production and co-development” of the UNICORN radar as a part of the bilateral efforts to deepen defence ties.
At present all sales must be approved by the National Security Council (NSC) of Japan, and the government needs to monitor how the weapons are managed afterwards.
Earlier this month, China expressed grave concern over Japan’s attempt to revise its policy on transfer of defence equipment. On 7 April, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that many international scholars and insightful individuals in Japan have expressed deep concern over the move, warning that it would represent a significant change in the arms export policy and undermine the safeguards put in place after World War II to prevent any resurgence of Japanese militarism.
The move seriously contravenes the spirit of international legal documents, such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and Japan’s Instrument of Surrender, and also runs counter to Japan’s own Constitution and norms, the spokesperson said.
On the other hand, countries like Australia and the Philippines have welcomed the move.
Australia on Saturday signed with Japan a multi-million-dollar defence deal under which Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver three upgraded Mogami class frigates and eight of them to be jointly produced later at Perth.
“The relaxation of these controls is going to be really important to developing the seamless defence industrial base,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, in a presser after the signing ceremony with Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, said.
In a statement, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said that it would provide access to defence articles of highest quality, strengthen domestic resilience and contribute to regional stability through deterrence.
The change in Japan’s arms export policy comes at a time when it has sent 1,400 combat troops, highest since World War II, for the first time to the Philippines for the annual Balikatan exercise. Japan is also expected to unveil the Type-088 surface-to-ship missile.
Beijing’s assertive posture in the Pacific is driving Tokyo and Manila closer. The Philippines, which has already inducted BrahMos missile system from India, along with Japan’s southwestern island chain, forms part of the first island chain, the string of islands that hems China’s access from its coastal waters to western Pacific.
Changes to Japan’s export policy have been gradual over the years. In 2014, it began exports of non-lethal military supplies. In 2023, a change was approved allowing sales of weapons that it manufactures under licenses from other countries back to licensors such as the US.
Since October last year, Takaichi has planned to increase the defence spending target to 2 percent of GDP. This was a major shift from the previous administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba wherein Tokyo pulled out of the 2+2 mechanism with America due to Washington’s insistence on increasing defence spending.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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