India and 11 other countries would be able to buy lethal defense equipment from Japan

Japan intends to allow the shipment of lethal defense equipment, such as missiles and fighter jets, to India and 11 other nations, a step that might enhance New Delhi’s and Tokyo’s defense industry cooperation efforts.

As per the Nikkei report, regulations would be loosened by March next year to allow shipments to India, Australia, and other European and Southeast Asian countries. In 2014, Japan created a principle for the transfer of defence equipment and relaxed laws prohibiting its export. However, exports of lethal weapons are still prohibited.

Japan and India

The news comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida pledged to strengthen bilateral security and defense cooperation, especially in defense manufacturing, at a meeting on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo.

India is one of the few countries with which Japan has inked a significant agreement for reciprocal supply and service provision between their defence forces to promote closer military cooperation and contribute to Indo-Pacific security. In September 2020, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and India’s military inked the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).

According to the Nikkei, the Japanese government also wants to “increase deterrence against China by cooperating with countries that have signed individual security agreements with Tokyo.” Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy are among these countries.

About the Principle of Defense

Defence exports to countries that do not jointly develop weaponry with Japan are limited to equipment for rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping tasks, according to the 2014 principle. The new defense export rules will be part of the Japanese government’s economic and fiscal management and reform agenda, which will be finalized in June.

After Japan’s National Security Strategy is finalized by the end of this year, the defense export principle will be changed. In the Indo-Pacific, India, and Japan today have substantial security cooperation, which is mostly motivated by shared concerns about China’s assertive stance in the region.

As per Indian officials, Modi discussed the question of co-development and co-production of defense equipment in India with Kishida. Japan is also collaborating with the United Kingdom and the United States on plans to create new combat jets and anti-air missiles.

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