Overview
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and coalition partner Nippon Ishin no Kai state they will remove the last restraints on defense exports in their joint policy.
- The government, led at the defense ministry by Shinjiro Koizumi, is preparing follow-through while details on laws, timelines and controls have not been published.
- Analysts say lifting curbs would normalize defense commerce, open foreign sales for Japanese industry and expand security cooperation.
- Recent precedents include transfers of Japan-built Patriot missiles to the United States and agreements tied to Australian warship programs.
- Tokyo has used security assistance with partners such as the Philippines and is exploring potential sales involving Indonesia and Vietnam, according to the report.