Last night, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post published an article: "Japan revises its 'Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment,' fully liberalizing arms sales; second-hand warships have become popular in Southeast Asia. Defense Minister Koizumi is scheduled to visit the Philippines and Indonesia next month to discuss the transfer of used warships; the Liberal Democratic Party is compiling a list of retired vessels, planning to sell them at low prices. The Philippines has shown interest in six 'Abukuma'-class destroyers that have been in service for 30 years. After Japan upgrades their communication systems, delivery is expected to begin next year. Meanwhile, Japan has made breakthroughs in high-end arms exports: Australia has spent 2.3 trillion yen to purchase the latest 'Mogami'-class destroyers. With Japan ranking only 32nd globally among defense enterprises, constrained by its domestic market, export expansion is urgently needed to revitalize the industry and support around 9,600 small and medium-sized component suppliers. This move aims to offset the decline in the automotive sector and strengthen Japan’s industrial standing.
[Clever] Comment briefly: Japan’s loosening of arms sales is far more than just a financial calculation—it represents the continued erosion of post-war military constraints, concealing deeper ambitions. Looking back, from the 1967 “Three Principles on Weapons Exports,” through the 2014 shift toward “principle-allowed” policies, to today’s full liberalization, Japan has systematically broken through the limits set by its peace constitution over decades. Currently, among the world’s top ten defense giants, the U.S. holds six seats, China two, while Japan ranks only 32nd. Facing surplus defense production capacity and high costs, exports have become Japan’s only viable path forward. Selling second-hand ships at low prices in Southeast Asia not only helps dispose of outdated equipment and win allies, but also cultivates markets and paves the way for future high-end arms sales. Joint development of fighter jets with Britain and Italy, and exporting large warships to Australia, are clearly aimed at capturing a share of the global arms trade. This is not merely a matter of industrial self-rescue—it is a dangerous attempt to seek military superpower status, posing serious risks to regional stability.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863565760067596/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.