Japan approves plan to sell fighter jets to other nations in latest break from pacifist principles

In the most recent departure from the nation’s postwar pacifist ideals, Japan’s Cabinet on Tuesday authorised a proposal to sell prospective next-generation fighter fighters that it is building with Britain and Italy to other nations.

As part of an effort to develop the Japanese armaments sector and strengthen its position in international security, the controversial decision to permit overseas arms sales is anticipated to assist ensure Japan’s participation in the joint fighter aircraft project.

The Cabinet also approved a change to Japan’s policies regarding the transfer of technology and arms, allowing the sale of jointly created deadly weapons to nations outside of its partners.

Under its pacifist constitution, Japan has traditionally prohibited the sale of armaments, but in response to growing regional and international tensions, particularly those arising from China, it has moved quickly to deregulate.

Japan will be able to sell deadly weapons it coproduces to foreign nations for the first time thanks to the jet decision.

Japan’s ageing fleet of F-2 fighters, built in the United States, and the Eurofighter Typhoons flown by the Italian and British armed forces will be replaced by a modern fighter jet developed in collaboration with Italy and the United Kingdom.

Japan, which was previously working on a homegrown design to be called the F-X, agreed in December 2022 to merge its effort with a British-Italian program called the Tempest for deployment in 2035. The joint project, known as the Global Combat Air Program or GCAP, is based in the UK

Japan hopes the new plane will offer advanced capabilities Japan needs amid growing tensions in the region, giving it a technological edge against regional rivals China and Russia.

Because of its wartime past as aggressor and the devastation that followed its defeat in World War II, Japan adopted a constitution that limits its military to self-defense. The country long maintained a strict policy to limit transfers of military equipment and technology and ban all exports of lethal weapons.

Opponents have criticized Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government for committing to the fighter jet project without providing an explanation to the public or seeking approval for the major policy change.

To address such concerns, the government is limiting exports of codeveloped lethal weapons to the jet for now, and has promised that no sales will be made for use in active wars.

The government also assured that the revised guideline for the time being only applies to the jet and that it would require Cabinet approval to do so. Potential purchasers will be also limited to the 15 countries that Japan has signed defense partnership and equipment transfer deals with.

Recent polls suggest that public opinion is divided on the plan.

In 2014, Japan began to export some nonlethal military supplies, and in a latest move last December, it approved a change that would allow sales of 80 lethal weapons and components that it manufactures under licenses from other countries back to the licensors. The change cleared the way for Japan to sell US-designed Patriot missiles to the United States, helping replace munitions that Washington is sending to Ukraine.

In its decision, the Cabinet said that the arms export ban on finished products would hinder efforts to develop the new jet, and limit Japan to a supporting role in the project. Italy and the UK are eager to make sales of the jet in order to defray development and manufacturing costs.

Kishida sought Cabinet approval before signing the GCAP agreement in February, but it was delayed by resistance from his junior coalition partner, the Buddhist-backed Komeito party.

The change also comes as Kishida is planning an April state visit to Washington, where he is expected to stress Japan’s readiness to take on a greater role in military and defense industry partnerships.

Exports would also help boost Japan’s defense industry, which historically has catered only to the country’s Self Defense Force, as Kishida seeks to build up the military. Despite its effort over the past decade, the industry has still struggled to draw customers.