LDP leader urges deregulation of weapons export to create business opportunities

A ruling party leader insisted that the government should review its policy of banning arms export in order to give Japanese technologies more business opportunities.

In a speech on November 21 at a meeting of the Japan-U.S. Defense Strategy Conference in Tokyo, Kyuma Akio, Liberal Democratic Party acting secretary-general, pointed out that Japan's Three Principles on the Prohibition of Arms Exports prevents the war industry from having business opportunities to promote its technologies. "At least, export of weapons components to the United States, Japan's ally, should be allowed," he stressed.

In 1967, Japan decided to prohibit arms exports to communist countries, countries to which weapon exports are prohibited by the United Nations, and countries involved in international disputes or those that might be involved in such conflicts. The government in 1976 announced an additional policy to prohibit export of arms production-related equipment.

However, the government is presently considering relaxing the Three Principles due to the Missile Defense System which Japan and the U.S. are jointly developing. (end)