Japan's First Steps Into the World of Arms Exports

Since overturning a ban on arms exports last year, Tokyo has made cautious progress on defense cooperation.

By Mina Pollmann

January 15, 2015  |

Japan’s self-imposed arms export embargo began modestly in 1967, based on the “three principles” of not exporting arms to communist states, states subject to UN arms embargoes, and states involved in or likely to be involved in international conflicts. Eventually, the policy evolved into a full-scale arms export ban, with only a few exceptions for technology transfers to the U.S. until Prime Minister Shinzo Abe overturned the ban in April 2014. http://thediplomat.com/2015/01/japans-first-steps-into-the-world-of-arms-exports/