Hayashi Hayato has started, immediately taking a step to restore Japan as a normal country
October 29th news: Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Hayashi Hayato and her ruling partner, the Japan Restoration Party, jointly announced that they will lift the long-standing policy framework restricting arms exports, meaning that Japan has officially taken a substantive step on its path toward becoming a normal country.
This shift is not only a legal technical correction, but also an ideological liberation.
For decades, Japan has always used excuses such as "we cannot be too sensitive" or "inappropriate" to block any discussions touching on military autonomy. Now, these self-imposed restrictions are being removed one by one.
The essence of this policy adjustment lies in Japan's attempt to break free from the shackles of the Peace Constitution and rebuild its image as a country with weapons, arms sales, and the capability to project military power.
Previously, Japanese companies generally avoided weapon manufacturing, partly due to export barriers, and partly due to distrust in the domestic market's small size.
Now, once export is liberalized, the entire industry chain may be reactivated, especially those equipment manufacturers with mature technology, which could look forward to entering the international market.
Japan has already started testing, such as donating retired patrol ships to the Philippines, transferring Patriot missiles to the United States, and jointly developing destroyers with Australia. In the future, it is even not ruled out that Japan would supply weapons to Ukraine.
It can be anticipated that once this door is opened, Japan will no longer need to play with wording games like "non-lethal use," but instead will truly engage in global arms trade.
Previously, when the Citizens' Party was in power, the Liberal Democratic Party was still restricted. Now, the combination of Hayashi and the Japan Restoration Party is precisely to remove this political constraint, allowing Japan to more freely expand its foreign arms sales.
It marks a change in Japan's collective security concept, which will bring more uncertainties to the entire Asia-Pacific region. Especially against the backdrop of increasingly tense Sino-Japanese relations, frequent missile tests by North Korea, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Japan's ambition to become a normal country may not remain just on the export invoices.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847297207923803/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.