Japan to allow lethal defence equipment exports to India and 11 countries says Report

Japan is planning to allow export of lethal military equipment, including missiles and jets, to 11 other countries including India. This information comes after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese PM Fumio Kishida during the Quad Leaders Summit. This is going to be a move by Japan that will further boost New Delhi and Tokyo's efforts to cooperate in defense manufacturing.

According to a report by Nikkei, rules will be relaxed by March next year to allow exports to India, Australia, some European and Southeast Asian countries. Japan has relaxed rules for the transfer of defense equipment. However, as of 2014, Japan's own rules on the export of lethal weapons continue to be banned.

PM-Kishida met during Quad Committee

The development comes after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida during the Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo on Tuesday. In which the two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral security and defense cooperation, including defense construction.

Special agreement between Japan and India

India is one of the few countries with which Japan has signed a significant agreement for the mutual provision of supplies and services between its defense forces in order to promote closer military cooperation and contribute to security in the Indo-Pacific. Can you The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Army of India was signed in September 2020.

The Nikkei report said the Japanese government aims to "increase resistance against China by cooperating with countries that have signed personal security agreements with Tokyo". These countries include Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, US, UK, Germany, France and Italy.

What is Japan's 2014 export rules

As of the 2014 doctrine, defense exports to countries that do not jointly develop weapons with Japan are restricted to equipment for rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping missions. The new rules on defense exports are part of the Japanese government's policy on economic and financial management and reform, which will be finalized in June. The principle of defense exports will be revised once Japan's national security strategy is prepared by the end of this year.