The government in Tokyo is considering relaxing its restrictions on exports of lethal weapons amid heightened tensions with Beijing
3-MIN READ3-MIN2 ListenAlyssa ChenPublished: 8:37pm, 4 Apr 2026Japan is considering plans to relax its rules on the sale of offensive weapons in a move that one Chinese analyst said may open the door to it exporting weapons to warzones and possibly to Taiwan.
Currently, Japan can only export military gear designated for defensive purposes such as rescue, transport, warning, surveillance or minesweeping equipment.
But a draft government document, reportedly seen by the news agency Kyodo, would scrap this rule.
Kyodo said the new regulations would make a distinction between lethal equipment, for example warships or missiles, and non-lethal technology such as radars.
According to media reports, lethal equipment would now be allowed to be sold to countries with which Japan already has deals to exchange defence technology.
Under the new proposals, defence exports would have to be approved by the country’s national security council.
