Overview:
Japan has taken a historic step in reshaping its postwar security stance, approving new rules to export lethal defense equipment to 17 partner nations, including Australia. The move, driven by rising regional tensions involving China and North Korea, signals a significant shift from decades of pacifist policy while raising concerns about its impact on global stability.
In short:
Japan has overhauled its defence export rule, allowing Japanese-made arms — including warships, combat drones and missiles — to be sold internationally.
Some fear the move away from Japan’s postwar pacifist policy could increase global tensions.
What’s next?
Japan will only sell to 17 countries that have signed defence equipment and will monitor how the weapons are managed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-22/japan-overhauls-defence-export-rule/106590578
Japan has overhauled its decades-long defence export rule, allowing the country to sell lethal weapons internationally amid concern over Chinese and North Korean aggression.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government approved the new guideline enabling Japan to sell Japanese-developed warships, combat drones and missiles to 17 approved countries, including Australia.
It is a move away from Japan’s self-imposed post World War II pacifist policy which some say could increase global tensions and threaten the safety of the Japanese people.
“Given that the security environment is becoming increasingly challenging, I believe that no country can now safeguard its own peace and security on its own,”
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
“In this context, I believe it is important to have partners who support one another in the area of defence equipment.”
But she stressed that Japan’s “core principles” and “history” as a pacifist nation remained unchanged.
China has criticised the policy change with the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun saying he was “deeply concerned”.
He said Beijing would “remain highly vigilant and resolutely resist any reckless actions by Japan towards a new form of militarism”.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have strained US weapons production and many countries in Europe and Asia are looking to diversify suppliers as security commitments appear less certain under US President Donald Trump.
For now, Japanese exports would be limited to 17 countries that have signed defence equipment and technology transfer agreements with Japan.
The nations must also be approved by the National Security Council, and Japan’s government says it will monitor how the weapons are managed.
The policy change came as Japanese troops descended on the Philippines for a military training exercise featuring live-fire exercises in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
Troops from the US, Philippines, Australia and Japan unite for the biggest military exercise in “real-world conditions” to ensure security in the Indo-Pacific region. But China has criticised the drill.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro welcomed Japan’s rule change, saying it would provide access to defence “articles of the highest quality” that would “strengthen domestic resilience” and “contribute to regional stability through deterrence.”
Manila and Tokyo signed an agreement in September making it easier for their forces to operate in each other’s territory and in January eased rules for exchanging military supplies.
Australia last week signed an agreement with Japan for delivery of three of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ upgraded Mogami-class frigates and to jointly produce eight others.
Australia welcomed Tokyo’s new policy as a move to deepen the defence partnership.
US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, called the export rule change a “historic step” to strengthen collective defence.
While Germany’s envoy to Tokyo, Petra Sigmund, said it created opportunities for deeper cooperation “with the aim of enhancing global stability”.
Reuters/AP