Japan's cabinet, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has formally lifted the country's long-standing ban on exporting lethal weapons, marking one of the most significant departures from the defence policies Japan adopted after World War II. The move opens the door to overseas sales of fighter jets, missiles and warships.
Scope of the Change
Takaichi announced the decision on Tuesday via a post on X, stating: "With this amendment, transfers of all defence equipment will in principle become possible." Under the revised rules, at least 17 countries will be eligible to purchase weapons manufactured in Japan, provided they commit to using them in line with the UN Charter. "Recipients will be limited to countries that commit to use in accordance with the UN Charter," Takaichi said, outlining the core restriction on sales.
Japan will also bar weapons exports to countries where active fighting is under way, though the new framework allows for exemptions under special circumstances, according to Al Jazeera English.
What the New Rules Cover
Japanese newspapers report that the policy changes will encompass fighter jets, missiles and warships — categories entirely off-limits under the previous framework. The earlier rules, first introduced in 1967 and formally enacted in 1976, confined Japanese military exports to non-lethal equipment such as surveillance systems and mine-sweeping technology. Japan also adopted a new constitution after World War II renouncing participation in war, which shaped the restrictive export regime that remained largely intact for decades.
Regional Security Driving the Shift
Takaichi framed the decision as a response to a deteriorating strategic environment. "In an increasingly severe security environment, no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone," she said. The prime minister, who is widely regarded as a China hawk, has been a strong advocate for strengthening Japan's defence posture.
The announcement comes shortly after Japan and Australia signed a $7 billion deal for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build the first three of 11 warships for the Australian navy — a contract that underscored the practical pressure to update export rules. Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia are among the countries reported to be interested in purchasing Japanese-made weapons under the new policy.
Context
Separately, on the same day, Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its spring festival. The shrine, built in the 1800s to honour Japan's war dead, has long been a source of diplomatic tension with China and South Korea due to the inclusion of convicted war criminals among those commemorated there.
