Japan Eases Weapons Export Ban, Increases Defense Spending

U.S. Ambassador Praises Japan's Military Overhaul as Critics Question Patriot Missile Sale

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government has eased its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, a major break from Japan's postwar self-defense-only principle.
The government has also approved a 16.5% increase in defense spending next year to a record $56 billion, focusing on missile strike and defense capabilities.
Japan has approved a U.S. request for shipment of surface-to-air Patriot guided missiles produced in Japan under an American license to complement U.S. inventory, prompting speculation they may be sent to Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised Japan's contribution to drastic 'reform and modernization' of their alliance, particularly its military capability and spending.
Critics in Japan question the sale of Patriot missiles and argue that Japan needs to fortify its missile strike and defense capabilities to cope with an increasingly assertive China.