Japan is considering lifting an export ban on weapons jointly produced with other countries, paving the way for shipment of fighter jets being developed with Britain and Italy to other nations, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.
To realize such weapon sales, the working group of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, is planning to restart their discussions on relaxing the country's strict rules for defense equipment exports in the latter half of August, instead of the fall as initially planned, according to the sources.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told lawmakers of the working group that his government will soon present its view on the transfer of defense equipment and technology and asked the group members to resume their talks on the matter.
Japan aims to ease its stringent "three principles" on defense equipment and technology transfer before it signs a treaty, possibly by the end of this year, on the three-way development of the fighter jets by 2035 and seeks Diet approval next year, the sources said.
The treaty will stipulate the setup of a coordinating body between Tokyo, London and Rome that will be tasked with managing the project's progress and is also expected to discuss the export of developed jets, according to the sources.
The move came as the working group of Kishida's LDP and Komeito compiled a report on July 5 on reviewing the three principles of defense equipment transfers under the war-renouncing Constitution.
The report said the parties would agree to Japan exporting defense equipment with lethal weaponry, including non-combat vehicles and ships, to nations with which Tokyo collaborates on security matters, provided the purpose is for rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance or minesweeping.
Meanwhile, the report also suggested that the working group members remain divided on whether Japan can export fighter jets jointly developed with other countries to third nations.
The LDP has been eager to relax the restrictions on arms exports, but Komeito has been reluctant to change them, fearing that selling weapons to the world could exacerbate armed conflicts and run counter to Japan's postwar pacifism.
The government has been aiming to bolster the domestic defense industry and expand support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.
So far, Japan has maintained its position that the three principles ban lethal weapons exports, except for items jointly developed or produced with other countries that can be transferred among themselves.
The government is leaning toward abolishing the prohibition on weapons exports since the next-generation fighters are sure to be shipped by Britain and Italy to third nations regardless of Japan's policies, the sources added.
Against a backdrop of tight regulations, Japan has provided Ukraine with such defense products as bulletproof vests and helmets, though Western countries have supplied missiles, tanks and fighter jets.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference earlier Tuesday that the government and the ruling bloc will work together in fostering a desirable security environment for Japan and establishing rules for supporting countries under military invasion, calling the defense equipment export "an important political tool."
