April 20, 2025

A bill aimed at promoting research, development, and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI)-related technologies (AI promotion bill) was passed on April 18 at a House of Representatives Cabinet Committee meeting with a majority vote of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komei Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Nippon Ishin no Kai. The Japanese Communist and Reiwa parties voted against the bill.

In discussions prior to the vote, JCP lawmaker Shiokawa Tetsuya argued that the use of AI in military domains should be prohibited.

Shiokawa noted that the bill, as a fundamental principle, states that AI technology is an “important technology from a security perspective”. In this context, he referred to the fact that the Japanese and U.S. governments in December 2023 agreed to engage in joint AI technology research for unmanned aircraft that will work in tandem with next-generation fighter jets. He pointed out that regarding the agreement, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of Japan’s major defense contractors, unveiled the concept of producing unmanned air vehicles capable of carrying offensive weapons, and added, “Uncrewed weapons-armed aircraft linked to a combat jet is exactly a dangerous development.” Defense Ministry Deputy Director General for Cyber Security and Information Technology Kegoya Masanori replied that the drone’s capability has yet to be determined.

Shiokawa referred to a U.S. Airforce AI-piloted drone which in March received a “fighter” designation, and said that the AI “pilot” autonomously performs tasks, such as selecting targets, supposedly under rough human instructions. He said, “It is totally unacceptable that the government of Japan with the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution intends to jointly develop this weapons system technology with the U.S. government.” He demanded that the application of AI to deadly weapons be banned.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Kiuchi Minoru in response argued that the government has no intent to develop fully autonomous lethal weapons. The JCP lawmaker said, “It’s not just about fully autonomous or semi-autonomous. The government should flatly proclaim that it will not use AI for military purposes.”