Japan Asked to Allow Exports of Arms Made under Foreign License

Tokyo, Dec. 13 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling coalition called for the government Wednesday to allow exports of arms and ammunition made under license from foreign firms to the countries where they are based.

The ruling bloc also recommended that the government give the green light to the transfers of such weapons and ammunition from importing countries to third countries, except those in conflict.

The government is expected to revise the country's guidelines on defense equipment transfers by the end of this year, based on the proposals.

The current guidelines only permit exports to the United States of weapon parts manufactured under license by U.S. companies.

A total of 79 items of defense equipment are manufactured in Japan under license from foreign companies from eight countries.

These include U.S. F-15 fighter jets, the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC3, ground-to-air missile defense system, British 155-millimeter howitzers and French 120-millimeter mortars.

Some members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have called for the provision of ammunition to the United States, whose stockpiles have been reduced by support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The ruling coalition said that transfers of weapon parts should be allowed if they are not lethal, a proposal apparently aimed at opening the way for the provision of the engines of decommissioned Air Self-Defense Force F-15 jets to Indonesia.

Under the revised guidelines, any invaded country can be the destination for Japanese-made non-lethal defense equipment. Currently, such destinations are limited only to Ukraine under a provision created last year.

Japan will lift a ban on exports of defense equipment parts and technologies developed under international projects, including one on next-generation fighter jets with Britain and Italy, and postpone its decision on those of finished products.
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