Defense·21/4/2026ملخص الذكاء الاصطناعي Japan Lifts Decades-Old Arms Export Restrictions, Enabling Weapon Sales to 17 Countries
Japan has relaxed decades-old restrictions on arms exports, ending limits on sales to just five categories and enabling weapon sales to the 17 countries with whom it has defence agreements, including the US and UK. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the change on Tuesday, framing it as necessary amid an increasingly severe security environment, while maintaining Japan remains committed to peace. China expressed serious concern, calling the move reckless militarisation. The policy shift coincides with Japan participating as combatants in US-Philippines war games for the first time.