Some lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will set up a group to help accelerate the Japanese government's efforts to expand defense-related exports, a source close to the matter said, despite reluctance shown by its coalition partner.
The group, to be launched as early as this month, will advocate a review of "three principles," the nation's strict guidelines on the overseas transfer of defense equipment and technology under its postwar pacifist Constitution, the source said.
The move comes after the government last month revised its key defense documents, including the National Security Strategy, a long-term policy guideline.
The updated strategy says Japan will "promote smooth transfer of defense equipment and technology of high security significance" and "build a strong and sustainable defense industry."
Rui Matsukawa, a former parliamentary vice defense minister, is among the LDP lawmakers.
The three principles effectively ban weapon exports except for the purpose of joint development or production with a foreign country. They also specify conditions such as obliging recipient nations to ensure proper control over the delivered equipment.
The government, which plans to amend the principles' implementation guidelines in April or later, is considering enabling Japan to ship lethal weapons to a country under armed attack, according to a government source.
Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, is reluctant to lift the ban on selling lethal arms for fear that such a relaxation could fuel international conflicts.
The security strategy says defense-related exports are "a key policy instrument" to "deter unilateral changes to the status quo by force, to create a desirable security environment for Japan, and to provide assistance to countries that are subject to aggression."
Japan had long maintained a more stringent ban on arms exports until 2014 when then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eased it and adopted the current principles.
While Japan has concluded defense equipment and technology transfer agreements with 13 countries such as Australia, Britain, and India, its export of air defense radars to the Philippines has been the only contract for a finished product under the current principles.
