The new rules have reduced Japan's limits. Japan will now be able to sell deadly weapons such as fighter jets, missiles, warships, drones, and destroyers.
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Japan decided on Tuesday to relax restrictions on arms sales. The decision opens the door to selling deadly weapons. Japan has been worried about the aggressive behavior of China and North Korea in recent times. Prime Minister Sane Takaichi's cabinet decided on Tuesday to remove legal obstacles to arms sales. This is a major change in the pacifist policy adopted by Japan after World War II. Japan began selling arms for the first time since World War II in 2014. However, Japan used to export only weapons that could be used for rescue, transportation, alert, surveillance and underground bomb disposal. The new rules remove Japan's borders. Japan will now be able to sell lethal weapons such as fighter jets, missiles, warships, drones, and destroyers. Earlier, in December 2023, Japan changed its policy and made a rule to allow the export of lethal weapons and components made by foreign licensed companies to those countries. As a result, it sent American-designed Patriot missiles to Washington. Japan's defense partners Australia and the United States have welcomed the new decision. Similarly, countries in Southeast Asia and Europe have expressed their desire to buy weapons from Japan.
US Ambassador to Japan George Glass called the announcement a historic step. 'This will help increase defense capabilities among partners,' he wrote on social media.
China has opposed it. 'The world community, including China, must recognize Japan's new style of militarism.' "It will resist desperate measures," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun.
Japan has defense agreements with 17 countries, including the United States and Britain.
