Japan opens to global arms market; changes post-war pacifist policy

22 APRIL 2026

Japan scrapped a ban on lethal weapons exports, a major change in its postwar pacifist policy as the country seeks to build up its arms industry amid worries over Chinese and North Korean aggression.
The approval by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet of the new guideline clears a final set of hurdles for many arms sales, including of Japanese-developed warships, combat drones and other weapons.
It has been largely welcomed by Japanese defence partners like Australia and attracted interest from Southeast Asia and Europe.
U.S. Ambassador called the move a “historic step” that will help enhance the defence capabilities between the allies.
Japan has long prohibited most arms exports. It has made recent changes because of rising global and regional tensions, but exports were limited to five areas: rescue, transport, alerts, surveillance and minesweeping.
The new guidelines scrap those limits and allows the export of equipment such as fighter jets, missiles and destroyers.
For now, such exports will be limited to 17 countries that have signed defence equipment and technology transfer accords with Japan.
They also must be approved by the National Security Council, and the government will monitor how the weapons are managed afterward.
Japan remains committed to strict screening and export controls to third countries and will not offer lethal weapons to countries at war, officials said, but granted that exceptions could be made to that limit.