Japan’s ex-defence chief pushes for more arms export rules easing amid US missiles deal

Itsunori Onodera said Tokyo should further relax curbs on military exports to allow its own technology to be used widely around the world

His remarks came after Japan recently announced it would export Patriot missiles to the US, giving Washington more flexibility on how it supports Ukraine’s air defences

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A Japanese soldier stands guard next to a surface-to-air Patriot missile interceptor launcher vehicle in Funabashi, east of Tokyo. File photo: AP

Published: 2:02pm, 25 Dec 2023

Japan should continue to loosen its restrictions on military exports to allow its own technology to be sold overseas, a former defence minister said as the country prepares to export missiles to the US in the first transaction of its type.

Itsunori Onodera, who is spearheading the move to enable defence exports from the long-pacifist country, said he would press ahead with ruling coalition discussions on broadening the scope of allowable exports.

“It would be best for us to develop technology and have it used widely around the world, rather than just taking on the manufacturing,” Onodera said in an interview on Friday.

The Japanese government announced the same day it would allow sales of weapons produced under licence back to the country of origin, and would export Patriot missiles to its ally. The move could widen the pool of missile interceptors available to the US, giving it more flexibility on how it supports Ukraine’s air defences.

Under the new rules allowing exports back to the countries that own the licences, Japan could also sell 155mm artillery shells to the UK, if requested to do so, Onodera added.

Ukraine has been burning through munitions in its fight against invading Russian forces. The 155mm artillery shell is the standard used by Nato members, who have been sending howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine.