Japan eases restrictions on lethal weapons exports to boost security cooperation

[0:00] Japan has approved scrapping most restrictions on overseas arms sales, [0:03] paving the way for warships, tanks, and missiles to be exported. [0:07] Tokyo says this will strengthen the country's defense [0:09] and deter potential threats from regional powers. [0:13] The Prime Minister Sanae Takeichi's government emphasized [0:15] the country will continue to uphold the principles of a peace-loving nation. [0:19] Currently, Japan has defense transfer agreements with 17 countries, [0:23] including the UAE, the U.S., and India. [0:25] Today, no country can safeguard its own peace and security on its own. [0:34] To protect both national and regional peace, [0:37] it's important to further promote the transfer of defense equipment [0:40] and strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of allies and like-minded partners. [0:47] Well, Takuya Matsuda is an assistant professor at Ayagama Gaku University in Tokyo. [0:51] Pardon me. [0:52] He joins us live now from the Japanese capital. [0:54] Professor Matsuda, this is a major shift when it comes to Japan's pacifist post-World War II constitution [0:59] and when it comes to Japanese policy. [1:01] Why is this happening now? [1:05] Right. [1:05] Actually, the thing is, when it comes to arm exports, [1:08] this has been a culmination since gradual lifting bans on arm exports since 2014. [1:14] Actually, initially in 2014, Japan lifted bans on non-lethal weaponry. [1:18] So what's different this time around is that this actually lifts technically all bans for Japan. [1:25] But when it comes to why this is happening right now. [1:28] So first of all, the strategic environment here in the West Pacific has been deteriorating [1:33] and that has led to Japan's decision to export arms basically for two reasons. [1:42] First of all, any war that could happen in this region will be a protracted war. [1:46] So that's what a lot of observers predict when it comes to protracted war needs to have a robust [1:53] defense industrial capacity for peacetime. [1:56] So basically by diversifying its own defense industrial markets by exporting arms, [2:01] that will actually help Japan develop its own defense industrial capacity from peacetime. [2:06] That's one thing to prepare for a protracted war if that ever happens. [2:10] Another important part here is that Japan is trying to consolidate its partnership [2:16] with regional partners such as the Philippines and Australia. [2:20] So these countries, especially for the Philippines, [2:24] the Filipinos is a country in the first island chain, just like Japan, [2:29] which means that these arms exports will help the Filipinos [2:33] also develop their own defense capabilities, which will be crucial for regional deterrence. [2:38] And also for Australia, it's another important like by a country for Japan. [2:42] Actually, Japan signed a contract with Australians on exporting [2:47] upgraded Mogami class fidgets, which is another significant sort of deal [2:53] which comes hand in hand with these arms export [2:57] you know, restrict deals. [3:00] Yep. [3:01] Professor Mitsuda, let me ask you a little bit more about that, [3:03] because this move comes as anxiety increases over China's [3:07] increasing, escalating military activity. [3:09] What do you foresee that the regional reaction to this is going to be more broadly? [3:13] And which countries would see this as having [3:17] more of a potential to raise regional tensions? [3:19] But I think, you know, a lot, you know, [3:24] so a lot of countries, you know, like Philippines and Australia [3:27] actually welcoming Japan's lifting of the span. [3:30] However, when it comes to a country like China, [3:32] they might see this as something that might raise tensions in the region. [3:36] So that is also one thing that's, you know, it's actually a flip of a point. [3:40] For a lot of U.S. allies, like my partners, [3:43] this is a welcoming development that will actually help strengthen [3:46] those partnerships and also bolster self-violence among them. [3:51] But when it comes to China, they will see this with alarm. [3:54] Professor, Japan has been a country that prides itself with being pacifist. [3:57] How do you foresee that the public is going to react to this change? [4:00] Is there any sense of growing unease about this? [4:03] Right, this was announced just today, [4:08] so it's really hard to tell what the domestic reaction will be at this point. [4:11] But I would argue that, you know, a lot of these defense exports, [4:15] including the Mogami class frigid that were, you know, [4:18] the contracts were signed just over a weekend. [4:21] There has been a lot of these developments in the past five years, [4:24] which means that it's not actually a big news when it comes to, you know, [4:28] Japan actually expanding its defense exports. [4:31] So I would say that, you know, also, I would also add that compared to 2014, [4:35] when Japan first lifted, you know, [4:38] bans towards non-lethal weaponry systems capabilities, [4:44] you know, Japan has been, you know, upgrading its own military capabilities, [4:48] and Japan has been living in a detourant strategic environment, [4:50] which means that, you know, the public has been aware [4:53] that Japan needs to step up to do more for regional security [4:57] and also for its own defense, which means that I would argue in general, [5:00] that this will have less backlash compared to it back in 2014 or 15, [5:05] when Japan was still, you know, you know, [5:08] the pacifism was still something that really permeated through the Japanese public. [5:13] All right. [5:13] Takuya Matsuda, assistant professor at Oyama Gakuen University in Tokyo. [5:17] Thanks so much for joining us here on Al Jazeera. [5:18] We really appreciate getting your thoughts.