Business circles call for arms export controls to be eased

Japan Press Weekly

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Business circles call for arms export controls to be eased

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) called for Japan's arms export controls to be eased and for the promotion of the use of outer space for military purposes.

Nippon Keidanren put forward these demands in a proposal published on July 14 in regard to the government's new "Defense Program Outline".

In 2004, the government changed the rule to exclude Japan's participation in the joint development and production of a missile defense system with the United States from the three principles on arms exports, which prohibit the export of arms from Japan.

The Nippon Keidanren proposal demands that the three principles be reviewed on the grounds that there are "diversified needs from abroad for Japanese arms and arms technology".

It is asking for Japan's participation in intergovernmental joint development programs from the initial stage of R&D with U.S. and European countries, as well as the participation of Japanese corporations in joint development projects in the private sector.

Nippon Keidanren also requests a budget for the government's outer space development strategic headquarters so that the government's "defense outline" will include early warning satellites and spy satellites.

- Akahata, July 15, 2009