日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（1/2）

Recently BBC on-line reported the following:

Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism (1/2)

 BBC - Kurumi Mori,Tokyo correspondent and Koh Ewe

21 Apr. 2026

Japan has relaxed decades-old restrictions on its arms exports, clearing the way for it to sell weapons to more than a dozen countries.

The announcement on Tuesday marks a milestone in Tokyo's shift away from the pacifism that has characterised its post-war defence policy. It also comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region.

Restrictions that limit arms exports to just five categories - rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping - will be lifted.

This means Japan can now sell lethal weapons to the 17 countries with which it has defence agreements, including the US and the UK.

A ban on arms sales to countries involved in conflict will stay, although it does not cover those that have defence pacts with Japan. Authorities in Tokyo say they will allow for exceptions "in special circumstances".

"In an increasingly severe security environment, no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on X on Tuesday.

However, she also said there was "absolutely no change in our commitment to upholding the path and fundamental principles we have followed as a peace-loving nation for over 80 years since the war".

"Under the new system, we will strategically promote equipment transfers while making even more rigorous and cautious judgments on whether transfers are permissible," she wrote.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said in a press briefing that the move was "intended to safeguard Japan's security and further contribute to the peace and stability of the region".

China has said it is "seriously concerned" about what it described as Japan's "reckless militarisation".

"China will remain highly vigilant and resolutely opposed [to the move]," Beijing's foreign ministry said in a routine media briefing on Tuesday.

(to be continued)

Translation

日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（1/2）

日本放寬了實施數十年的武器出口限制，為其向十幾個國家出售武器掃清了障礙物。

週二的這項宣布標誌著東京在擺脫其戰後國防政策中所奉行的和平主義方面邁出了重要一步。此外，這宣佈也正值該地區局勢高度緊張之際。

先前將武器出口限制在五類 - 即救援、運輸、預警、監視和掃雷 - 將被取消。

這意味著日本現在可以向與其簽訂了國防條約的17個國家出售致命性武器，其中包括美國和英國。

禁止向捲入衝突的國家出售武器的禁令仍然有效，但禁令不適用於與日本簽訂了國防條約的國家。東京當局表示，他們將在「特別情況下」允許例外出售。

日本首相高市早苗週二在X網站上撰文指出:「在日益嚴峻的安全環境下，任何國家都無法獨自維護自身的和平與安全」。

然而，她也表示，“我們作為80多年來始終承諾堅持愛好和平的國家的道路和基本原則絕對沒有改變。”

她寫道：“在新體制下，我們將戰略性地推進裝備轉讓，同時對轉讓是否合法做出更加嚴格謹慎的判斷。”

內閣官房長官木原稔(Minoru Kihara) 在記者會上表示，此舉「旨在維護日本的安全，並進一步為該地區的和平與穩定作出貢獻」。

中國對日本的决定稱之為「魯莽軍事化」並表示深表「關切」。

北京外交部週二在例行記者會上表示，“中方將保持高度警惕，堅決反對（這一舉動）。”

（待續）