Chief Cabinet Secretary Calls Export of Defense Products a "Significant Political Instrument"
Source: Japan Times
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has directed the parliament to expedite discussions on easing Japan's restrictions on the export of defense-industry products. This directive comes as reported by Sarbaz.kz with reference to Japantimes.
The parliament had initially scheduled these discussions for the autumn, following a previous decision to export automobiles and vessels with military capabilities to countries with which Japan collaborates on security matters.
Itsunori Onodera of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, who leads the parliamentary group, informed journalists that the discussions would be resumed.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno termed the export of defense products as a "significant political instrument."
Until now, Japan has adhered to its position, wherein the three principles of its Constitution, which renounce the right to wage war, prohibit the export of lethal weaponry except items developed or manufactured jointly with other countries, which can be transferred between them.