Minoru Kihara

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Japan's cabinet approved historic restrictions removal on weapons exports, allowing arms sales abroad for the first time since World War II to strengthen its defense industrial base and regional security amid evolving threats.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet removed most weapons export restrictions, allowing Japan to sell arms internationally for the first time since World War II, aiming to strengthen its defense industrial base amid regional security concerns.

Japan's cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of warships, combat drones, and fighter jets to allied nations, fundamentally shifting defense policy amid Chinese and North Korean security concerns.

Japan's Cabinet eliminated its postwar lethal weapons export ban, permitting sales of warships, combat drones, and fighter jets to 17 allied nations, fundamentally shifting its pacifist defense policy amid rising Chinese and North Korean threats.

Japan's government eased decades-old weapons export restrictions, enabling lethal arms sales abroad to strengthen regional security amid rising threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, though public opposition remains significant at fifty-three percent.

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Japan's government recommended that private equity firm MBK Partners halt its acquisition of Makino Milling Machine, citing national security concerns over the defense-critical machine tool manufacturer's potential foreign control.

Japan's Cabinet scrapped its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, permitting sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to strengthen its defense industry amid Chinese and North Korean threats, though critics warn it violates pacifist constitutional principles.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi removed longstanding restrictions on weapons exports, permitting lethal arms sales to allied nations to strengthen deterrence and the defense industry, though critics worry inadequate parliamentary oversight risks fueling regional conflicts and undermining pacifist principles.

Japan's government lifted post-World War II arms export restrictions, permitting military equipment sales to 17 countries with confidentiality agreements, aiming to strengthen its defense industrial base amid evolving global security threats.

Japan scraps most weapons export limits to boost its arms sector and military suppliers.

Japan lifted its lethal weapons export ban under Prime Minister Takaichi, enabling sales of warships and combat drones to 17 allied nations, marking a historic shift from postwar pacifism amid rising China and North Korea threats.

Japan's Cabinet abolished its postwar weapons export ban Tuesday, permitting sales of lethal arms like fighter jets and missiles to strengthen its defense industry amid rising Chinese and North Korean threats, marking a historic policy shift.

Japan lifts ban on lethal weapons exports, shifting its postwar pacifist policy.

Japan relaxes arms export rules, allowing sales of decommissioned navy destroyers to allied nations.

US intel report calls Japan PM's Taiwan remarks 'significant shift'

Japan's Cabinet lifted its decades-old ban on lethal weapons exports Tuesday, enabling sales of fighter jets and combat drones to strengthen its defense industry amid rising Chinese and North Korean threats, while critics argue the shift violates its pacifist constitution.

Japan's Cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, approving sales of fighter jets, missiles, and warships to strengthen its defense industry amid regional security concerns from China and North Korea.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi removed most weapons export restrictions, allowing the nation to sell arms internationally for the first time since World War II, aiming to strengthen its defense industrial base amid regional security threats from China and North Korea.

Japan's Cabinet eliminated its postwar lethal weapons export ban, allowing sales of fighter jets, missiles, and warships to strengthen its defense industry amid rising Chinese and North Korean threats, though opponents argue it violates pacifist constitutional principles.

Wildfires in northern Japan spread towards a town, prompting evacuation advisories for over 2,500 people.

Japan's Cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of advanced military equipment like fighter jets and missiles to allied nations, marking a historic policy shift amid regional security threats from China and North Korea.

MBK Partners' proposed acquisition of a Japanese manufacturer was halted by Tokyo authorities, who determined the deal posed potential national security risks, reflecting growing regulatory scrutiny of foreign investments in strategically sensitive domestic industries.

Japan eased defense equipment export rules, generating growing international interest in its decommissioned weapons systems, particularly destroyer vessels, to strengthen regional deterrence capabilities in the Asia-Pacific amid geopolitical tensions.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet lifted Japan's decades-old ban on lethal weapons exports to 17 countries, marking a historic shift from pacifist policy to strengthen regional security against China and North Korea while rebuilding defense manufacturing capacity.

Japan lifted decades-old restrictions on arms exports, emerging as a global defense supplier to diversify democratic alliances amid weakening U.S. security guarantees under Trump and escalating tensions with China over Taiwan.

Japan's government eased decades-old weapons export restrictions, ending a ban on lethal arms sales to strengthen defense partnerships and economic growth amid regional security threats, though the move sparked public opposition and Chinese criticism of alleged militarization.

Japan's Cabinet scrapped its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports Tuesday, enabling sales of warships, combat drones, and missiles to allied nations amid Chinese and North Korean threats, marking a historic shift from pacifist policy.

Japan's Cabinet scrapped its postwar lethal weapons export ban Tuesday, enabling sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to 17 allied nations amid rising regional security threats from China and North Korea, marking a historic policy shift.

Japan lifted its decades-long ban on lethal weapons exports, allowing sales of warships, combat drones, and missiles to strengthen its defense industry amid China and North Korea concerns, marking a historic pacifist policy reversal.

Japan relaxes arms export rules, allowing sales to 17 countries with defense agreements.

Japan relaxed its 80-year arms export ban in April 2026, now allowing lethal weapons sales to 17 defense partners. Multiple nations, including potentially the Philippines, are interested in Japan's decommissioned Navy destroyers to counter regional threats like China's South China Sea expansion.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visits Vietnam and Australia in May to advance Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasizing energy security, AI cooperation, and regional resilience against China's expanding influence.

Japan's Cabinet ended its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, permitting sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to 17 allied nations, marking a historic defense policy shift amid regional security tensions.

Japan's Cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to strengthen its defense industry amid rising Chinese and North Korean threats, with Australia and other allies welcoming the policy shift.

Japan's Cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of fighter jets and combat drones to strengthen its defense industry amid Chinese and North Korean threats, with Australia and Southeast Asian nations expressing interest.

Japan's Cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of fighter jets and combat drones to allied nations, marking a historic shift toward militarization amid regional security threats from China and North Korea.

Japan lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports Tuesday, enabling sales of fighter jets and combat drones to strengthen its defense industry amid Chinese and North Korean threats, with Australia and Southeast Asian nations expressing interest.

Japan's Cabinet lifted its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of warships, combat drones, and fighter jets to 17 allied nations, marking a significant policy shift amid rising Chinese and North Korean threats.

Japan sees growing interest in its decommissioned defense equipment after easing export rules.

Japan's Cabinet scrapped its postwar lethal weapons export ban Tuesday, enabling sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to 17 allied nations amid escalating regional security threats from China and North Korea while facing domestic constitutional concerns.

Japan's Cabinet scrapped its postwar lethal weapons export ban, allowing sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to 17 allied nations, marking a historic policy shift amid rising Chinese and North Korean security threats.

Japan lifts its ban on lethal weapons exports, shifting its postwar pacifist policy.

Japan relaxes arms export rules, allowing sales to 17 countries with defense agreements.

Japan's Cabinet scrapped its postwar lethal weapons export ban Tuesday, enabling sales of fighter jets, missiles, and destroyers to strengthen its defense industry amid Chinese and North Korean threats, marking a fundamental shift in pacifist policy.

Japan's Cabinet approved ending its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, enabling sales of fighter jets and combat drones to 17 allied nations, marking a significant defense policy shift amid rising regional security tensions.

Japan lifted its decades-long ban on lethal weapons exports Tuesday, approving sales of warships and combat drones to strengthen regional defense partnerships amid China and North Korea threats, marking a historic shift from post-war pacifism.