日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（2/2）

Recently BBC News on-line reported the following:

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

 BBC - Kurumi Mori,Tokyo correspondent and Koh Ewe

21 Apr. 2026

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The new arms export rules were announced as Japan's Self-Defence Forces took part in annual war games between the US and the Philippines. Japan is joining the war games as combatants for the first time, instead of mere observers.

China has opposed the drills, claiming that it would deepen divisions in the region. The exercises take place in parts of the Philippines that are near waters and islands claimed by Beijing, including Taiwan.

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing's control - and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island.

Last year, Takaichi drew Beijing's ire after she suggested in parliament that Japan could respond with its Self-Defence Force if Beijing attacked Taiwan.

South Korea's foreign ministry said Japan's defence policy "should ideally be carried out in a manner that upholds the spirit of the Peace Constitution while contributing to peace and stability in the region".

South Korea was colonised by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War Two. Japanese soldiers forced hundreds of thousands of Koreans to work in its mines and factories. Women were pushed into sexual slavery.

Eight decades of pacifism

Japan's defence posture was written into its post-World War Two constitution in 1947. It renounced war as a way to settle international disputes and stated that Japan will never maintain war potential.

For decades, pacifism has become part of Japan's identity. But that mindset has been shifting gradually.

In 2014, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe relaxed a blanket ban on all military sales, allowing it to jointly develop arms with allies and give its defence industry access to new markets and technology.

In 2023, then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took it a step further to allow exports of finished lethal weapons for the first time since World War Two.

Takaichi has supported revising the pacifist constitution. While she has not specified the proposed changes, many think it will involve amending Article 9, which renounces war.

Takaichi's supporters say Japan needs to face a new reality where old rules no longer apply for a country that sits surrounded by China, Russia, and North Korea.

But critics worry that Japan is becoming a war-capable country. To them, Takaichi's stand on constitutional reform could mean Japan might be drawn into military conflicts.

Translation

日本放寬武器出口限制，打破二戰後和平主義政策（2/2）

（繼續）

日本自衛隊宣佈新的武器出口限制之際，正值日本自衛隊參加美菲年度聯合軍事演習。日本首次以參戰方身分參與此次演習，而非只是觀察員的身份。

中國反對此次演習，聲稱將加深地區分裂。演習地點位於菲律賓部分地區，靠近北京聲稱擁有主權的海域和島嶼，包括台灣。

中國將自治的台灣視為分離省份，最終將置於北京的控制之下，亦不排除使用武力收復台灣。

去年，高市在國會表示，如果北京攻擊台灣，日本可能動用自衛隊回應，此舉激怒了北京。

韓國外交部表示，日本的防衛政策「理想地應秉持和平憲法的精神，同時為區域和平與穩定做出貢獻」。

韓國自1910年起被日本殖民統治，直到二戰結束。日本士兵強迫數十萬韓國人到其礦場和工廠從事苦役。婦女被迫淪為性奴。

八十年的和平主義

日本的防衛立場於1947年寫入二戰後憲法。日本放棄以戰爭解決國際爭端，並聲明日本永遠不會保持戰爭能力。

幾十年來，和平主義已成為日本身份認同的一部分。但這種觀念正逐漸轉變。

2014年，時任首相安倍晉三放寬了對所有軍售的全面禁令，允許日本與盟友聯合研發武器，並使其國防工業能夠進入新的市場並獲得新技術。

2023年，時任首相岸田文雄更進一步，允許自二戰以來首次出口致命武器成品。

高市一直支持修改和平憲法。雖然她沒有具體說明擬議的修改內容，但許多人認為這將涉及修改放棄戰爭的第九條。

高市的支持者認為，日本需要面對新的現實，舊規則不再適用於這個被中國、俄羅斯和北韓包圍的國家。

但批評者擔心日本正在變成一個具備戰爭能力的國家。在他們看來，高市在憲法改革問題上的立場可能意味著日本將被捲入軍事衝突。

So, Japan has relaxed decades-old restrictions on its arms exports. The announcement marks a milestone in Tokyo's shift away from the pacifism that has dominated its post-war defense policy. Apparently, Japan feels that old rules no longer apply for her country that is surrounded by China, Russia, and North Korea. On top of that, the US is asking its partners to beef up their defense capabilities.