In 2014, the Japanese government abolished its longstanding “three principles” prohibiting arms exports.

US President Donald Trump golfing with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the former’s trip to Japan in 2019. Photo from the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan’s website.

Japan’s National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG) form its basic policy for security. Covering spans of approximately 10 years, the guidelines are decided by the Cabinet. Based on the NDPG, the Cabinet also establishes five-year, medium-term plans for the armaments Japan should have on-hand.

The NDGP that began in fiscal 2011 was approved on Dec. 17, 2010. At the time, Japan’s Democratic Party was in power, and Naoto Kan was serving as prime minister.

Before the day was out, Keidanren Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura (also chairman of Sumitomo Chemical) released a “chairman’s comment” about the new NDGP.

“We request a concrete revision of the ‘three principles’ on arms exports and other relevant policies, to enable Japan’s participation in international joint development and production of defense equipment,” he said.

In the 1990s, Keidanren had advocated for Japanese defense contractors to be able to export weapons at least to the US, Japan’s ally.

“We must refrain from explicitly asking to be allowed to export weapons. It is against Japan’s [pacifist] constitution, and it is not an issue that should be discussed in terms of one’s own interests,” said Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Chairman Kentaro Aikawa in an interview published in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in 1998.

“However,” he continued, “with the US it’s different. Isn’t it strange that Japan cannot export to the US even though it is our ally?”

Ten years after these comments, Keidanren had begun to openly call on the government to lift the arms export ban.

US economic history expert: “Following the same path as the US is foolish”

Keidanren’s demands were finally reflected in policy during the second Abe administration, after the Democratic Party lost power.

In April 2014, the Abe administration changed the “three principles” on arms exports to “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.” The new principles allowed arms exports, under the conditions that the Japanese government confirms that the export “actively promotes contributions to peace and international cooperation” and “contribute to Japan’s security,” as well as that countries receiving exports strictly control said arms.

In October 2015, Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency was established. The agency assumed responsibility for all weapons exports and procurement for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

The bill to establish the agency was deliberated in the Committee on Security in the Diet’s lower house. Dokkyo University Professor Emeritus Junko Nishikawa, a specialist in American economic history, participated as an expert witness. She criticized the new agency as leading Japan toward developing a military-industrial complex.

“Japan’s manufacturing industry can be expected to rapidly militarize, as the Ministry of Defense secures a defense budget and unfailingly allocates it to private companies through the newly established Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency,” she said. “Military budgets will be widely distributed, not only to prime contractors but also to subcontractors and research institutions such as universities.”

“Surplus weapons will be sold overseas — that is the reason for which the ‘three principles’ on arms exports have already been overturned. I believe this indicates that Japan is steadily advancing a legal framework to establish a system for developing and manufacturing weapons. I can see it leading to the creation of a military-industrial complex,” Nishikawa continued.

“‘Military-industrial complex’ is a well-known expression. Some may say this is exactly what the US and other countries do, but anyone with even a modicum of knowledge about the American military-industrial complex must conclude that any attempt by Japan to follow the same path is nothing but foolish,” she emphasized.

Top 10 companies receiving defense-related procurement orders from the Japanese government from 2011 to 2015.

The upper section shows order value, and the lower section shows donations from the company to the National Political Association (a political finance organization that handles corporate and group donations to the LDP).

Note:
・Order values are compiled from Defense Agency materials, etc.
・Orders received and donations made by subsidiaries are consolidated to the current parent company.
・Former company names have been aligned with current company names.

(Originally published in Japanese on October 26, 2024. )

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