Japan Sells Fighter Jets: Breaking its pacifist ideals, Japan will now also sell fighter planes. Japan’s Cabinet has approved the export of new fighter aircraft being developed with UK and Italy. Under the new rules, Japan has made arms export easier, so that fighter jets can be sold to countries with which Japan has signed defense agreements.
According to BBC, Japan has promised to double its military expenditure by 2027 in view of the threats posed by China and North Korea. Japanese officials have said that cabinet approval will be required for the sale of each fighter aircraft. In December 2022, Japan joined the UK-Italy collaboration to develop this new fighter jet. This agreement has been named Tempest, under which high-tech fighter aircraft will be built.
Japan is increasing defense equipment
The jets being built in collaboration with the UK and Italy can be deployed by 2035. For the first time, Japan has signed an agreement with any country other than America on defense equipment development. This information has come to light when Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is going to visit America in the month of April. During this time, it is expected that the Prime Minister will emphasize on increasing our defense partnership with America.
What did Japan’s spokesperson say?
Recently, the Prime Minister of Japan had said that to maintain Tokyo’s credibility, it is ‘necessary’ to allow export of war planes to third countries. Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Tuesday, ‘It is necessary to manufacture fighter planes with the necessary capabilities for the security of our country, so that it can be clear that Japan will not compromise its security.’
Japan is breaking pacifist ideals
After World War II, US-occupied Japan adopted a constitution stating that the country renounces war and the use of force to settle international disputes. During this period, a ban on arms export was also imposed, but in 2014, the then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reduced the ban. Now Japan has further simplified the rules for the sale of lethal weapons.