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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Government okays arms exports via Japan-U.S. joint missile development

The government of Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on December 24 officially approved Japan's participation in the development of Aegis destroyer-deployed SM-3s from FY 2006 as part of the Japan-U.S. joint missile development project.

In his statement on the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe Shinzo announced that the government will take measures to lift the ban on exports to the U.S. of joint missile defense projects-related parts, and that it will consult with the U.S. government in order to establish a new legislative framework to this effect.

It will reportedly demand that U.S. sales of completed missiles or their parts to a third country require Japan's permission and that applying developed MD-related technologies to other kinds of military development be banned completely.

The Japanese government is considering exchanging notes with the United States. The two governments are expected to begin discussing this issue from the beginning of 2006.

Based on the pacifist Constitution, the Japanese government has maintained the Three Principles on Arms Export banning arms exports to communist bloc countries, countries to which the export of arms is prohibited under U.N. resolution, and countries involved in or likely to become involved in international conflict.

However, following the publication of the new National Defense Program Outline, the Chief Cabinet Secretary issued a statement in December 2005 and demanded that the Three Principles on Arms Export will not be applied to exports to the U.S. of missile-defense related parts.

The government decision that allows Japan's weapons exports to the U.S. will eventually promote arms sales to third countries. Though the government claims that the legislation, if enacted, will be strictly enforced, once the arms exports ban is lifted, reexporting of weapons will be monitored. It will also destroy the Three Principles banning arms exports to countries involved in or likely to become involved in international conflict.
- Akahata, December 26, 2005