Japan approves plan to sell fighter jets to other nations in latest break from pacifist principles

The first part of Article 9 clearly states that Japan will not start any wars. That is the Pacifist principle to which the country still adheres. Exports of weapons have never been prohibited under the Constitution, as they are self imposed laws which followed.

Contrast nations like Russia which is actually invading another counrry, or China that continues to threaten to invade. These are Non-Pacifist nations.

Really good move by the Kishida cabinet. Other nations - friendly democracies, likely in Asia - will be interested, knowing there is a lot if Japanese tech in these fighter jets. None of these jets will go to totalitarian regimes. Unlike despot, warmongering nations like Russia, China and NK who trade weapons and wage war on sovereign nations.

Japan is still - and will remain - a pacifist, freedom-loving nation. This changes nothing - don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

The controversial decision to allow international arms sales 

Controversial? Only with Japan's enemies.

Very good news. Japan should up its game in the defense industry, and have such exports contribute to its economy, just like many other nations.

Though the pro-CCP hordes will undoubtedly be on here saying Japan is warmongering, as OssanAmerica says, the country is still maintaining its pacifist principle (as it definitely should).

@mods: few mistakes in the article:

to make sells of the jet [sales]

Kishida sought Ccabinet approval [cabinet]

said Japan needs “updating” [strange quote, but it may be correct]

Moderator: Thank you. The corrections have been made.

thank you Japan, now Japan finally hold hand together with its counterparts and move forward together with them. The world need Japan, Western countries, Aus and NZ to maintain the global peace and rule of orders.

Better if it were drones, as manned aircraft going the way of the buggy whip and ICE vehicles!

This is good for Japan. Rely less on others and more on yourself. US industry needs competition.

Will it be Japanese design, Italian engine and British gearbox?

Japan is a sitting duck,

Japan is a sitting duck,

Laughable.

Japan has pretty much the entire free world on her side.

But do keep up your support of Communist China and Fascist Russia.

its latest step away from the pacifist principles the country adopted at the end of World War II.

No No No !

Japan didn't adopt any pacifist principles by a constitution written and forced apon them after they surrendered their country.

The USA who wrote the Japanese constitution obviously aren't pacifists.

Japan was ordered to be pacifist

Enough said !

Japan has pretty much the entire free world on her side.

Not even remotely close to being correct

Every previous time Japan was given the opportunity to be a team player it decided to attempt being the leader.

To make an announcement that included the words 'pretty much' is testimony to making a redundant moot point.

Japan approves plan to sell fighter jets to other nations in latest break from pacifist principles

Ooops. There goes the neighbourhood……..

So it's not against the constitution

As the economy shrinks, workforce becomes older. Salary’s stagnation continues. Let’s become an arms dealer. Great idea.

Will it be Japanese design, Italian engine and British gearbox?

If it is either of those Italian or British things, then it’s sure to breakdown. Though if it were Italian design, it would be beautiful until the rust set in; and if it were British design, it would be totally impracticable and ugly, like an Austin Allegro.

This is nothing but constitutional violation.

But this issue is also hidden in the shade of other topics such as famous baseball player or LDP corruption, major media avoid even criticism, most Japanese have no even self-consciousness that own country is about to abandon pacifism by corrupted regime.

@aaronagstring beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, as most men say, if it does the job it will work, then its ok and if it has a hole he will try to plug it!!

Will it be Japanese design, Italian engine and British gearbox?

If it is either of those Italian or British things, then it’s sure to breakdown. Though if it were Italian design, it would be beautiful until the rust set in; and if it were British design, it would be totally impracticable and ugly, like an Austin Allegro.

To avoid war/hot conflict, you have to/need to, be smart. Key, don't allow yourself to be used, eg, like what happened to Ukraine. In todays world, no matter what disagreements you have//what quarrel you have, no one/country want war/hot conflict. Just engage/negotiate/etc . Do no allow yourself to be played into others agendas/Ulterior motives. Again be smart.

Aoi AzuuriToday 09:15 pm JST

This is nothing but constitutional violation.

Please point us to the article of the Japanese constitution that says defense equipment exports are not allowed.

Oh, that's right: you can't. Because such an article does not exist.

Japan’s Military Industrial Complex (MIC)is doing what other countries’ MICs have been doing for decades.

Although the Three Principles on Arms Export exist, there are no restrictions on the export of weapons under the Constitution.

For now, it will feature Japanese engines, Italian avionics and British gearboxes.

There is a possibility that something better than France or Germany could be created.

Unjust fundraising government change direction of the state with only themselves autocratically, and betrayed lessons from history one after another.

General public including people who have no interest to politics pay the price sooner or later.

The world is getting to dangerous to remain a pacifist nation especially when you are in the middle of the disputed area, the South China Sea.

@リッチ It certainly is a pretentious, unrealistic dream.

@Clayton K. Char Japan is in the middle of the South China Sea? When did Japan reoccupy some of the islands?

OKuniyoshiMar. 26 09:34 pm JST

To avoid war/hot conflict, you have to/need to, be smart. Key, don't allow yourself to be used, eg, like what happened to Ukraine. In todays world, no matter what disagreements you have//what quarrel you have, no one/country want war/hot conflict. Just engage/negotiate/etc . Do no allow yourself to be played into others agendas/Ulterior motives. Again be smart.

The only one that used Ukraine was Russia. Cheated them out of their rightful nuclear inheritance.

Mr GoodmanMar. 26 07:41 pm JST

its latest step away from the pacifist principles the country adopted at the end of World War II.

No No No !

Japan didn't adopt any pacifist principles by a constitution written and forced apon them after they surrendered their country.

The USA who wrote the Japanese constitution obviously aren't pacifists.

Japan was ordered to be pacifist

Enough said !

A popular lie. Former PM Shidehara is the source of the clause and Japan has had plenty of opportunity to change it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution#Historical_background

Japan is a sitting duck,

How a good news from Japan hurts some people..

LOL

Amerikas work here is done

A popular lie. Former PM Shidehara is the source of the clause and Japan has had plenty of opportunity to change it:

No not a lie

The USA government officials inserted a rule into the Japanese constitution for Japan to be pacifist because it was feared retaliation might ensue - which by the way many in the USA military are still concerned about

Japan is in partnership with Italy and the UK to build this plane. The other partners want to sell to recoup some of the costs. Japan has to go along. This was agreed long ago but not announced.

All rather pointless as they won't be selling any as the US will have it's NATO vassals already signed up to buy US built war planes.

Is Japan trying to follow the old trail that led to a complete destruction and devastation not only to itself but also to the neighboring countries during World War II?

Exporting lethal weapons to third countries blatantly violates the pacifist principles and spirit struck out in the war-denouncing Constitution.

Japan is potentially leaving itself open to an attack by peddling arms overseas.

Japan does make good equipment

Good news but hardly ground breaking as they approved the sale of Japanese Submarines to Australia in 2016. Although that deal fell through, the decision had been made to allow the sale of one type of weapons platform. Jet fighters are simply a different form of weapons platform. One fly's through the air and the other through water, both used to launch actual weapons to destroy targets in water, on land or in the air.

Japan helping to arm an arsenal of freedom against dictators and despots. Excellent!

Actually, Japan has been making lethal weapons on a license basis and exporting them to the U.S. That, of course, is in violation of the three principles controlling weapons export. But weapons export to the U.S. was taken as an exception to the three principles.

How will the Japanese government deal with this new problem of selling next-generation jet fighters to third countries? How did it explain to British and Italian governments when signing a joint adventure?

Mr GoodmanMar. 27 06:42 am JST

A popular lie. Former PM Shidehara is the source of the clause and Japan has had plenty of opportunity to change it:

No not a lie

The USA government officials inserted a rule into the Japanese constitution for Japan to be pacifist because it was feared retaliation might ensue - which by the way many in the USA military are still concerned about

Only retaliation by garbage powers refusing to move on from the century of humiliation.