Japan to sell fighter jets in break from pacifism
By Kelly Ng
Japan’s cabinet has approved the export of new fighter jets it is developing with the UK and Italy, in the latest move away from its pacifist policies.
It eased arms export rules to allow the jets to be sold to countries that Japan has signed defence pacts with, and where there is no ongoing conflict.
Japan has pledged to double military spending by 2027, citing threats posed by China and North Korea.
Each fighter jet sale will require cabinet approval, authorities said.
In December 2022, Japan came on board a UK-Italy collaboration, dubbed the Tempest, to develop this new fighter jet that will use artificial intelligence and advanced sensors to assist pilots.
The jets are expected to be deployed by 2035 – in what is Tokyo’s first defence equipment development partnership with a country other than the US.
The latest move comes ahead of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official visit to the US in April, where he is expected to stress Tokyo’s alliance with Washington and his country’s readiness to be more involved in defence partnerships.
Mr Kishida had also said that allowing the export of warplanes to third countries is “necessary” to maintain Tokyo’s credibility as a partner in other future international defence projects.
