Photo/Illutration Self-Defense Force members load defense equipment bound for Ukraine onto a transport plane. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The ruling coalition has agreed to expand the so-called Ukraine rule regarding the exportation of defense equipment.

Lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and junior coalition partner, Komeito, have been discussing revising the government’s guidelines on the three principles of exporting defense equipment.

In the past, nations engaged in military conflict were barred from receiving any defense equipment from Japan.

However, in the wake of the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, wording was added to the guidelines to specifically allow defense equipment transfers to Ukraine.

According to several sources, ruling coalition lawmakers have now agreed to expand that provision to allow non-lethal exports to all nations being invaded in violation of international law.

While Ukraine is currently eligible to receive defense equipment from Japan, the government has limited such exports to exclude lethal weapons, and the only equipment provided to Ukraine has been bulletproof vests, helmets and other equipment.

Ruling coalition lawmakers have also agreed to allow the export of defense equipment manufactured in Japan under a licensing agreement to the nation of the company providing the license, as well as defense equipment parts belonging to the Self-Defense Forces.

These changes will be included in a proposal submitted to the government as early as next week.

But the LDP and Komeito have been unable to reach an agreement on two other areas regarding defense equipment.

First, while revisiting the five categories of defense equipment that can be exported (minesweeping, transportation, surveillance, monitoring and rescue equipment,) LDP lawmakers wanted to abolish the five altogether while Komeito members wanted to add more categories.

Discussions on that topic will continue next year.

Komeito lawmakers have also become more resistant to exporting defense equipment that Japan has jointly developed with other nations to third nations uninvolved in the development.

Japan is jointly developing its next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy. Government officials contend that the current ban on exporting to third nations reduces the benefits of jointly developing such equipment.

They also say that the ban would make it difficult for the new fighter aircraft to become an important weapon in the global market.

In July, the two sides agreed, in principle, to do away with the ban, but Komeito leaders have since expressed reservations.

LDP members are dissatisfied at the change of heart among Komeito lawmakers.

A treaty to allow for the establishment of an inter-government body for the joint development of the fighter jet is scheduled to be submitted to the ordinary Diet session next year.

(This article was written by Anri Takahashi, Nobuhiko Tajima and Shino Matsuyama.)

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