Japan Self Defense Forces Page 70

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The arms export ban was self imposed by Tokyo in 1976 but finally after 3 decades for several reasons is going to be relaxed.

Japan's Policies on the Control of Arms Exports

1. The Government of Japan has been dealing carefully with "arms" exports in accordance with the policy guideline named Three Principles on Arms Exports (hereinafter referred to as "the Three Principles") in order to avoid any possible aggravation of international conflicts.
2. Under the Three Principles, "arms" exports to the following countries or regions shall not be permitted: (1) communist bloc countries,
   (2) countries subject to "arms" exports embargo under the United Nations Security Council's resolutions, and
   (3) countries involved in or likely to be involved in international conflicts.
   The Three Principles have been the basic policy concerning Japan's "arms" exports since they were declared at the Diet session in 1967.
3. Subsequently, in February 1976, the Government of Japan announced the collateral policy guideline at the Diet session that the "arms" exports to other areas not included in the Three Principles will be also restrained in conformity with Japan's position as a peace-loving nation. In other words, the collateral policy guideline declared that the Government of Japan shall not promote "arms" exports, regardless of the destinations.
4. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) controls Japan's "arms" exports, based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law. The exports of "arms" and equipment for arms production listed in the Export Trade Control Order (see Annex) require export licenses to all destinations, since those transactions could be obstructive to the maintenance of international peace and security. In addition, "arms" trades mediated between foreign countries by Japanese agent need METT's permission.
5. The term "arms" as referred to in the Three Principles is defined as "goods which are listed in Item 1 of Annexed List 1 of the Export Trade Control Order of Japan (see Annex), and which are to be used by military forces and directly employed in combat." Such "arms" include specially-designed parts and accessories as well as finished products. The question of whether each item falls under such "arms" or not will be judged objectively based on its shape, feature and other technical aspects, and regardless of its end-use. On the other hand, so-called dual-use items do not fall under such "arms."
6. Based on other relevant laws, the Government of Japan also deals with in a strict manner: (1) direct overseas investment for the purpose of manufacturing "arms" abroad, and
   (2) participation in the overseas construction projects of military facilities.
7. The export of technologies which are exclusively related to the design, production and use of "arms" as defined in paragraph 5 above (hereinafter referred to as the "military technologies") is treated in the same manner as the export of "arms." However, in order to ensure the effective operation of the Japan-United States security arrangements, the Government of Japan paved the way for the transfer of the military technologies to the United States as an exception to the Three Principles. Such transfer of military technologies to the United States is to be implemented in accordance with the Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement (the MDA Agreement) and the Exchange of Notes concerning the Transfer of Military Technologies concluded in 1983 under the MDA Agreement (the 1983 Exchange of Notes).

It's time to relax rules on arms export, R&D

The Yomiuri Shimbun

It is high time for the government to conduct a thorough review of its arms export restrictions in response to the shifting situation on the world stage and advancements in military technology.
The defense policy subcommittee at the Liberal Democratic Party's National Defense Division has proposed relaxing the nation's three principles on weapons exports in connection with a plan to revise the National Defense Program Guidelines by the end of this year.
In specific terms, the LDP panel called for ending the ban on joint research and development of military equipment with other countries. Currently, this country conducts such projects only with the United States.
The panel also proposed that this country's self-imposed blanket ban on weapons exports, which covers nearly every nation, be partially lifted and instead applied only to state sponsors of terrorism, nations subject to an arms embargo under U.N. resolutions and those engaged in armed conflict.
The subcommittee also proposed reconsideration of the government's definition of weapons, with the aim of making it possible for the nation to export such general-purpose products as gas masks and modified four-wheel-drive vehicles.
All of these proposals are reasonable. The government should give positive consideration to them.

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Arms development costly

Research and development of a state-of-the-art fighter jet, an unmanned drone and other high-tech weapons require huge budgets and sophisticated defense technologies. In recent years, there has been a growing tendency to develop each advanced weapon as a joint project involving more than one nation.
For example, the F-35 stealth fighter is being jointly developed by nine countries, including Britain and the United States.
Japan has not even studied the possibility of taking part in this fighter development project. This is because the nation bars itself from providing weapons technologies to all countries, except for the United States. Japan's joint development of a missile defense system with the United States is the only project permitted under its self-imposed rule.
Together with the U.S.-made F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, the F-35 fighter is one of the candidates to be the Air Self-Defense Force's next-generation F-X fighter.
However, if the nation chooses the F-35 jet, it will have to wait longer and pay more for them than the countries involved in the joint development project. This means Japan's own regulations have narrowed its range of options regarding a future key piece of military hardware.

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Defense firms struggling

The three principles on arms exports set by the government in 1967  originally prohibited the export of weapons to communist states, nations under arms embargoes based on U.N. resolutions and those involved in armed conflict. In 1976, however, the ban was expanded to cover almost every nation.
In principle, the procurement of weapons to defend a homeland should not be criticized. What undermines world peace is the selling of arms to countries such as those engaged in armed conflict.
Japan's defined role as a peaceful nation would not be impaired if it were to revert to the ideas originally set out under the three principles and ban the export of arms only to a limited number of countries.
It should be remembered that the financial situation of the nation's defense-related companies, which are not permitted to export weapons to other countries, are worsening as the defense budget is trimmed.
According to the results of a recent Defense Ministry survey, 35 companies related to the production of tanks and 20 companies related to the production of fighter planes have either quit the arms business or gone out of business in the past five years.
The security of the nation could be undermined if specialized companies and skilled workers involved in the manufacture of primary weapons are no longer available in Japan and the country has to rely on other nations. It is a matter of course that all nations should seek to maintain the technological and production bases that are needed to secure their defense capabilities.


(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 10, 2009)

 

                       JMSDF destroyer fleet.

How many Akizuki class does JMSDF plan?

Kunal Biswas

That's a great photo!