Japan to allow lethal defence equipment exports to India, 11 countries: Report

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 27, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

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Digital Desk: Japan intends to allow the
shipment of lethal military equipment, such as missiles and fighter jets, to
India and 11 other nations, a step that might enhance New Delhi's and Tokyo's
defence industry cooperation efforts.

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"Times New Roman";color:#424242">According to a Nikkei report, regulations
would be loosened by March next year to allow shipments to India, Australia,
and other European and Southeast Asian countries. In 2014, Japan created a
principle for the transfer of defence equipment and relaxed laws prohibiting
its export. However, exports of lethal weapons are still prohibited.

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"Times New Roman";color:#424242">The news comes just days after Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida pledged to strengthen
bilateral security and defence cooperation, especially in defence manufacturing,
at a meeting on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo.

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"Times New Roman";color:#424242">India is one of the few countries with which
Japan has inked a significant agreement for reciprocal supply and service
provision between their defence forces in order to promote closer military
cooperation and contribute to Indo-Pacific security. In September 2020, Japan's
Self-Defense Forces and India's military inked the Acquisition and
Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).

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"Times New Roman";color:#424242">According to the Nikkei, the Japanese
government also wants to "increase deterrence against China by cooperating
with countries that have signed individual security accords with Tokyo."
Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States, the
United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy are among these countries.

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"Times New Roman";color:#424242">Defence exports to countries that do not
jointly develop weaponry with Japan are limited to equipment for rescue,
transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping tasks, according to the 2014
principle. The new defence export rules will be part of the Japanese
government's economic and fiscal management and reform agenda, which will be
finalised in June.

"Times New Roman";color:#424242">After Japan's National Security Strategy is
finalised by the end of this year, the defence export principle will be
changed.