Noda to brief Obama on arms exports / Relaxing ban to enable joint development

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is expected to tell U.S. President Barack Obama during a meeting in November that Japan will relax its de facto ban on arms exports, according to government sources.

Japan abides by three so-called principles on arms exports, which virtually prohibit exports of all weapons and related technology.

Relaxing the ban will pave the way for Japan to join multinational development and production of weapons, defense observers said.

The move will also help reduce the huge cost of procuring defense equipment.

For years, the United States has wanted to utilize Japan's advanced technology in such joint development projects. Noda believes relaxing the ban will also contribute to strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance, the sources said Thursday.

The three principles on arms exports were first announced by the administration of then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato during a Diet session in April 1967, when the Cold War was at its height.

Under these principles, arms exports were banned to:

-- Communist bloc countries.

-- Countries subject to arms embargoes under U.N. Security Council resolutions.

-- Countries involved in or likely to be involved in international conflicts.

In February 1976, however, the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Takeo Miki announced during a Diet session that arms exports would be banned also for countries not included in the three principles, in conformity with Japan's position as a peace-loving nation. In other words, the Japanese government would not export arms and related technology under any circumstances.

Under the plan to relax arms exports, Japan will be able to participate in joint development and production of arms with countries that adhere to international arms export controls based on U.N. resolutions and other rules, while banning exports to specific countries not participating in such control mechanisms, the sources said.

As a result, Japanese companies will be permitted to participate in multinational development programs for such vital military equipment as warplanes, ships and missile defense systems.

Japan will also be allowed to export defense equipment for humanitarian assistance, the sources said.

Due to the total export ban, Japan has not been able to participate in development projects of the latest defense equipment technology. Defense analysts have pointed out the ban adversely affects the technological foundation of the nation's defense industry.

Multinational joint development of weapons and related technology is essential, as the development of military equipment requires massive funds.

"A new framework should be decided in a comprehensive manner" in this regard, Noda said in December when he was finance minister.

The relaxation of arms exports will be officially announced in a government statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, who is expected to emphasize the Noda Cabinet's respect for the country's basic philosophy as a peace-loving nation, the sources said.

In a related move, the Democratic Party of Japan's Policy Research Committee on Thursday confirmed at the panel's executive meeting that the relaxation of the arms export principles--first announced in November--was a new party policy plank.

"I'd like to discuss the matter with the government at an appropriate time," panel Chairman Seiji Maehara said later.

In November, the DPJ compiled three standards to relax the arms export control rules. They are:

-- Overseas transfer of defense-related finished products would be limited to peace-building and humanitarian projects.

-- Joint development projects would be limited to the United States and member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

-- Standards and systems to prevent the transfer of defense technologies to third countries would be established.

However, New Komeito, an opposition party the DPJ hopes will cooperate in steering Diet affairs, is reportedly cautious about reviewing the arms export control rules.

The government and the DPJ, therefore, will give Komeito a detailed explanation of the significance of relaxing the ban to win its understanding, the sources added.