Japan has approved the most sweeping overhaul of its defence export rules in decades, removing longstanding restrictions on the overseas sale of lethal weapons including warships, missiles and fighter aircraft. The cabinet decision, announced on Tuesday, marks a significant departure from the pacifist security framework Japan adopted after World War Two, under which arms exports were tightly constrained for generations.

The revision eliminates five categories that had limited most military exports to non-lethal equipment such as rescue gear, surveillance systems and mine-sweeping tools. Rather than blanket prohibitions, ministers and officials will now assess each proposed sale on its individual merits. Japan says it will retain three core export principles — strict screening, controls on transfers to third countries and a ban on sales to nations involved in active conflict — though the government indicated exceptions could be made on national security grounds.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi framed the change as a matter of collective necessity. "No single country can now protect its own peace and security alone, and partner countries that support each other in terms of defence equipment are necessary," she wrote on social media. The shift comes as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East strain US weapons production, as Washington's allies seek to diversify suppliers amid uncertainty over American security commitments under President Donald Trump, and as Japan itself deepens security ties across Asia to counter China's growing regional influence. Countries ranging from Poland to the Philippines are exploring procurement opportunities, and one early deal under discussion involves the export of used warships to Manila.

The Philippines, whose archipelago forms part of the First Island Chain — a strategically critical string of islands that constrains China's naval access to the Western Pacific — welcomed the move warmly. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said it would provide access to high-quality defence equipment and "contribute to regional stability through deterrence." The US ambassador to Japan called it a "historic step" for collective defence, while Germany's envoy said it opened opportunities to enhance global stability. China, by contrast, expressed deep concern, with a foreign ministry spokesperson warning Beijing would "resolutely resist any reckless actions by Japan towards a new form of militarism."

The export liberalisation is one element of a broader Japanese military build-up. Tokyo has been purchasing long-range missiles, stealth jets and drones, is co-developing a next-generation fighter with Britain and Italy for deployment in the mid-2030s, and has raised defence spending to two per cent of GDP, with further increases expected. By expanding exports, Japan hopes to increase production volumes at domestic contractors such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, driving down per-unit costs and building the industrial capacity that would be critical in any future crisis.