Reimpose arms export ban
(From The Japan Times April 13 issue)

The Noda administration in December 2011 drastically relaxed Japan’s long-standing weapons export ban. On the strength of this step, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on April 10 agreed with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron to push joint development of weapons.

This is the first time that Japan has agreed to develop weapons with a country other than the United States. Japan decided to treat the export of weapons-related technology to the United States and joint development of missile defense with the country as exceptions to the ban in 1983 and 2004, respectively.

Mr. Noda’s decision this time with Britain is highly regrettable. In view of the possibility that jointly developed weapons will be used in military conflict, it is a betrayal of the principle and spirit of the war-renouncing Constitution, which says that “the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.”

In their joint statement, Mr. Noda and Mr. Cameron said they will ensure “strict control” to prevent their arms technology from falling into the hands of a third country, and from “extra-purpose use of defense equipment.” But there is no guarantee that Japan can develop a strong mechanism to enforce this prevention. One must not forget the simple fact that if helicopters are equipped with advanced weapons, they become highly lethal offensive equipment.

One wonders whether the Japanese government has given serious thought to a situation in which weapons exports lead to an arms race between two parties, thus increasing tensions and, in a worst-case scenario, give rise to a military conflict. If this happens, it means that Japan has given a hand to fomenting military conflict.

Japan’s self-restraint on weapons exports has gained it trust in the international community. Easing the arms export ban may make economic sense but will greatly damage Japan’s image, harming greater national interests. The government should retract the ban’s relaxation and stick to the spirit of the war-renouncing Constitution.

日本語の抄訳はウィークリ4月21日号のP18に掲載されています。