Japan takes step closer to easing rules on export of lethal weapons

Japan on Wednesday moved one step closer to allowing the export of lethal arms, as a panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a proposal calling on the government to ease rules limiting defense equipment transfers.

The LDP proposal, which is expected to be quickly submitted to the government early next month and could be put into effect later this spring, is seen as a “major shift” in Japanese defense policy.

It lays out a plan to scrap a requirement limiting Japan’s military exports to five nonlethal categories — rescue, transport, reconnaissance, surveillance and minesweeping — and instead classifying defense equipment into two categories: lethal arms such as warships and fighter jets and nonlethal equipment such as radars.