Japan makes major shift from pacificism policy

Tokyo has further drifted away from its proclaimed post-WWII pacifist stance, allowing arms sales to 17 nations

Japan has lifted restrictions on lethal arms sales, ending a ban on military exports imposed under the country’s pacifist constitution in 1947.

The move was announced on Tuesday by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hardline conservative who had long advocated revising Japan’s pacifist constitution and further beefing up the country’s offensive military capabilities. The PM said the decision comes amid an increasingly challenging security environment, when “no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone.”

“Until now, the overseas transfer of domestically produced finished products had been limited to search and rescue, transportation, surveillance, and minesweeping equipment (the so-called ‘five categories’), but with this amendment, transfers of all defense equipment will in principle become possible,” Takaichi said in a statement.

Japanese companies will now be able to sell arms to 17 countries with which Tokyo has defensive equipment and technology transfer agreements, including the US, the UK, Australia, and multiple Southeast Asian nations. The relaxing of arms exports supposedly does not affect the country’s pacifist commitments, the PM asserted. 

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“There is absolutely no change in our commitment to upholding the path and fundamental principles we have followed as a peace-loving nation for over 80 years since the war,” Takaichi stated.

Tokyo formally renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II constitution and pledged to never maintain a military. In reality, however, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) have long become a full-fledged military, packed with the most sophisticated equipment. 

While the easing of the arms sales restrictions has been touted by Takaichi as a major achievement, the latest step towards full re-militarization is consistent with the decisions made by the previous Japanese governments. In late 2023, Tokyo performed the first overseas lethal arms sale since 1947, supplying domestically produced missiles for US-made Patriot anti-aircraft systems to Washington. The munitions are manufactured by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries under license from US defense contractors Lockheed Martin and RTX.