Japan to Ease Arms Export Rules

Japan will ease decades-old arms export rules, the government’s top spokesman Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday, paving the way for the sale of lethal weapons overseas.

“With this partial revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and related rules, it has now become possible, in principle, to permit the transfer of defense equipment, including all finished products,” Kihara said at a news conference.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi argues that Japan must relax its rules on weapons exports to bolster national defense while also trying to boost the domestic arms industry as a driver of economic growth. (AFP)