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In an effort to boost its reputation in the area of international security, the Japanese government is thinking of sending weapons to nations that are being invaded, like Ukraine. The government will also take into account supplying weapons to nations that assist them with security.
The administration has reportedly broached the notion of extending the list of nations that are qualified for arms exports. According to the current regulations, Japan can only send missiles, armoured vehicles, and bombers to nations that also develop and manufacture the armament.
The export regulations should be changed, the head of state Fumio Kishida urged lawmakers last week. According to the paper, Kishida predicted that increasing military exports would become a crucial weapon for helping nations that had been subjected to violence in violation of international law.
Japan is attempting to change export laws in advance of holding the G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May.
Support from Japan for Ukraine
From the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 of last year, a number of nations have provided Ukraine with military assistance. It also promised Ukraine assistance. Tokyo, however, has only provided medical supplies, helmets, and protective vests because of its pacifist policies that restrict the export of weapons to the country that is racked by civil war. The paper said that Prime Minister Kishida is the only G-7 president who has not yet visited Ukraine, raising questions about Japan’s capacity to lead diplomatic conversations.
Early in the 1990s, Japan made a $13 contribution to the coalition led by the United States during the Gulf War. Yet, it chose not to send out members of the self-defense forces, drawing condemnation on the administration.
Discussion about exports of weapons expected
A legislator from the dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Masahisa Sato, proposed sending several rocket launchers to the conflict-torn Ukraine. Sato claimed that in the event of a Taiwan or Japan emergency, Tokyo would need to ask foreign country for guns and ammunition because otherwise it would not have nearly enough, echoing Prime Minister Kishida’s repeated warnings of East Asia turning into the next Ukraine. When faced with a crisis, Sato questioned whether they would’ve been able to request weaponry if it refused to assist other nations in need.
The junior governing coalition member in Japan, the Komeito party, is apprehensive about allowing the sale of weapons.Komeito campaigned to have the phrase “as rapidly as feasible” removed from the text of the updated National Security Strategy that called for a new weapons transfer strategy.
After the municipal elections in April, the Kishida administration and the coalition government are anticipated to discuss exports of weaponry.
Also, those who support such exports will run into opponents. The poll released last week, only 16% of respondents supported them, arming Ukraine, while 76% opposed it.
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