Japan to sell fighter jets in latest break from post-war pacifist ideals
The Japanese cabinet has granted approval for the export of new fighter jets currently under development in collaboration with the UK and Italy, marking a significant departure from its traditionally pacifist stance.
This decision involved a relaxation of arms export regulations to enable the sale of these jets to nations with which Japan has defense agreements, provided there is no active conflict.
Japan has committed to increasing its military expenditure twofold by 2027, citing perceived threats from China and North Korea. Each sale of these fighter jets will necessitate cabinet authorization, according to officials.
In December 2022, Japan joined forces with the UK and Italy in a collaborative effort named the Tempest project to create these next-generation fighter jets, which will leverage artificial intelligence and advanced sensor technology to support pilots.
These jets are slated for deployment by 2035, marking Tokyo’s inaugural venture into defense equipment development with a nation other than the US.
This recent decision precedes Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s upcoming official visit to the US in April, during which he intends to underscore Tokyo’s alliance with Washington and Japan’s willingness to engage more actively in defense partnerships.
Mr. Kishida has emphasized the importance of permitting the export of warplanes to third-party countries to uphold Tokyo’s credibility as a participant in future international defense initiatives.
Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi reiterated the necessity of realizing the plan to develop fighter jets with essential security capabilities to safeguard the nation’s defenses.
But Japan’s Defence Minister Minoru Kihara clarified that that Japan would still remain committed to the “basic philosophy of a pacifist nation” by going through “strict decision processes” for exports.
After World War Two, the US-occupied Japan adopted a constitution which says the country renounces war and the use of force to settle international disputes. The constitution does not officially recognise the military and limits it to self-defence capabilities.
It also imposed an arms export ban, which was eased for the first time in 2014 under then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In December 2023, Japan eased the rules further to allow the sale of lethal weapons it makes under foreign licenses to be exported to the country where the licenser is based.
This paved the way for Tokyo to send Patriot air defence missiles to the US. Patriot missiles are among the most advanced weapons supplied by the US to Ukraine.
