Japan adopts new arms export principles for 1st time in 50 yrs
08:04, 1 April 2014
TOKYO. KAZINFORM Japan adopted new principles and guidelines on arms exports on Tuesday, the first major overhaul in nearly half a century of its arms embargo policy, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set the stage for his country to play a more active role in global security.
Despite concern that the new policy change will hurt the country's status as a pacifist state, the Cabinet approved the rules that update the so-called "three principles" on restricting arms exports in the Cold War era, and give more clarity and leeway to Japan's weapons export policy, Kyodo reports. The newly adopted three principles on the transfer of defense equipment state that Japan will continue to embrace the basic philosophy of a pacifist state that abides by the U.N. Charter.