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2026-04-09 22:20:35
[Several Japanese Opposition Parties Call for Strengthened Arms Export Review] According to Japanese sources on the 9th, in response to the Japanese government's proposed relaxation of arms export restrictions, three Japanese opposition parties—the Nakado Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and the Komeito Party—plan to submit a draft proposal to the government soon, urging it to uphold the pacifist principles enshrined in the Constitution and establish a stricter review mechanism. According to the draft proposal obtained by Kyodo News, the three parties point out that hastily adjusting arms export rules could damage Japan's international reputation and negatively impact its peaceful diplomacy; therefore, a strict institutional framework is necessary. The draft emphasizes that adjustments to export rules should not be decided solely by the government and the ruling party, but should undergo necessary procedures, including parliamentary discussion, to gain public understanding. The draft proposes that exports of highly lethal weapons should be approved by a cabinet decision; for export items exceeding a certain amount, prior notification to the Diet and strict review are required. The draft also calls for a thorough assessment of the impact on regional military balance during the export process, strengthening restrictions on arms transfers to receiving countries; and for "countries deemed to be in armed conflict," clear standards must be established to ensure that related exports comply with the constitutional principles of pacifism and international law. According to previous reports from Japanese media, the Liberal Democratic Party's Security Research Committee held a meeting on the 6th to discuss a plan to relax restrictions on arms exports, and plans to revise the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment" and its application guidelines within April, thus "loosening" restrictions on arms exports. This move has drawn criticism from the Japanese public. Some analysts believe that once the Japanese economy becomes dependent on the military industry and even on war, it will be difficult to break free. (CCTV News)
