Japan Eyes Arms Market, Defence Networking Amid Geopolitical Tensions - Expert

KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (Bernama) -- A lucrative arms market and the need to build stronger defence and security networks amid the current geopolitical environment may have driven Japan’s recent revision of its arms export rules, according to an expert.

Prof Dr Adam Leong Kok Wey, Director at the Centre for Leadership, Security Strategy and Defence Studies at the Sultan Ibrahim Centre of Excellence, National Defence University of Malaysia, said he believed Japan sees potential in the arms market arising from the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war and the recent US–Israel conflict with Iran.

“In a sense, they will make some profit, and that profit can be reinvested into their defence industry to support further research and development (R&D) and the development of more advanced weaponry.

“The second reason, I think, also reflects the geopolitical situation in Northeast Asia, particularly with the emergence of China as a major global power,” he said.

Leong was speaking on BernamaTV’s Bernama World programme titled Japan Opens Up Arms Exports. What It Means for the World, recently.

He also believed that Japan is using future arms sales to build a so-called network of defence diplomacy with like-minded partner countries, in addition to its existing partnerships such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with India, Australia and the United States, as well as the “Squad” alliance with the Philippines, Australia and the US.

Leong highlighted that Japan’s recent announcement is not entirely new, as the country has been evolving its defence posture over the last decade, slowly modernising its defence force and has started to sell its military equipment to overseas partners, mostly for humanitarian and disaster relief roles.

“There's (also) a reinterpretation of Article 9 (of the Constitution), where they are allowed to conduct proactive self-defence missions and operations in conjunction with their allies, that include the US,” he noted.

The Japanese government on April 21 revised limits on defence equipment exports to enable the sale of weapons overseas.

Under the changes approved by the Cabinet and the National Security Council, exports of non-weapons, such as warning and control radar systems, face no restrictions, while those of weapons, including destroyers and missiles, are limited to countries that have signed agreements with Japan on protecting classified information related to defence equipment and technology, Kyodo News reported.

Japan currently has agreements with 17 countries, including the US and Britain.

-- BERNAMA