No. 1323 Government’s Full Efforts in Military Industry Development
In 2014 the-then Abe administration made a cabinet decision to allow export of weapons, which is incorporated in the Three Principles to Transfer of Defense Equipment. Today the Kishida government, backed up by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, is to lift the rules to prohibit weapons’ export completely.
NEW SOCIALIST PARTY IS AGAINST LIFTING RULES OF PROHIBITION OF ARMS EXPORT
The Kishida government decided on the new National Security Strategy in his Cabinet’s meeting late last December; it declared to develop military industries as ‘powerful, sustainable businesses’, describing that ‘the country’s defense production and technology basis constitutes very defense capability’. The core element lies in full-fledged lifting of the ban to export weapons after revising the relevant documents on the transfer rules.
We see two focal points: firstly, to export lethal weapons and, secondly, to export to third nations from Japan weapons jointly developed and produced with other countries.
The LDP and the Komeito have teams to work on reviewing the rules together with the government.
Export of lethal weapons
The current rules on the transfer of defense equipment set limits; a purpose must fall into the five categories of armament, which are for rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance and minesweeping. Furthermore, the guidelines ban vessels from mounting lethal weapons.
The government is intended (1) to approve equipping with lethal weapons, and, at the same time, (2) not to apply the restrictions based on the current arms’ categories.
The Kishida administration legislated on June 7 this year the Act to Strengthen Defense Production Basis. In accordance with the law the government has established a fund to help such enterprises as involved in exporting military equipment. It will help to outlay for costs, when it is necessary for Japanese companies to improve equipment or alter their specification to respond to requests of partners.
Thus, the government will directly involve in medium-and-smaller-sized supporting business entities in this sector.
Export of Next-generation fighter jets
Concerning armament jointly developed and produced with other countries, the current rules obligate the foreign partners to obtain an arrangement from the Japanese counterpart when the former sells products to a third country, banning export of such products from Japan.
The government is planned to scrap all the restrictions so that Japan as well as partner nations of joint production could export weapons to third parties.
Behind this idea we see the agreement reached between the Japanese government and those of the United Kingdom and Italy on joint manufacturing of the next-generation fighter jets. Mass production of a new type of jets will reduce export costs, expanding and intensifying the alliance relationship.
Big corporations, like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., which will involve in manufacturing new fighter jets, will not only make an enormous sum of profit but also acquire the most sophisticated technologies of the world.
Let’s enhance pacifism!
The Kishida government has a plan to make another Cabinet’s decision by the end of the year to totally lift the ban of weapons’ export.
Japan must not be a nation to export weapons which will trigger a war. This is the very basis of the Constitution which proclaims pacifism. Furthermore, the New Socialist Party is against militarization of the society in which a military-industrial-academic complex plays a key role.
２０１４年、安倍政権は武器輸出を可能にする「防衛装備移転三原則」を閣議決定。そして今、自民・公明両党の後押しを受け、岸田政権は武器輸出の全面解禁へ踏み込もうとしている。
岸田政権は昨年末に新「国家安全保障戦略」を閣議決定。「我が国の防衛生産・技術基盤は、防衛力そのもの」と記し、軍需産業の「力強く持続可能な産業」への育成を宣言した。育成の中心が「移転三原則」関連文書等の見直しによる武器輸出の全面解禁だ。
解禁目論みの要として、殺傷能力のある武器も輸出可能にすること、他国と共同開発・生産する武器についても日本から第三国へ輸出できるようにすること、の二つがある。
自民・公明両党のチームが、この見直し作業を政府と一体で進めている。
殺傷武器も輸出へ
現行の「移転三原則」の下で可能な武器輸出は、救難・輸送・警戒・監視・掃海の５類型に限定される。その際も、殺傷能力のある武器の搭載は認めていない。全面解禁の目論みは、①殺傷兵器の搭載を認め、かつ②分野限定方式を採らないというもの。
岸田政権は今年６月７日、「防衛生産基盤強化法」を成立させている。同法では、軍需品の海外輸出に取り組む企業を後押しするための基金を新設した。輸出相手国の要望に合わせ、装備品の改良や仕様変更が必要な際に、それに必要な経費などを支援する。
こうして政府は、軍需産業の裾野の中小零細企業へ、直接テコ入れをはかる。
次期戦闘機の輸出
共同開発・生産の武器は、現行、共同開発国が第三国に輸出する際に日本の同意を義務付け、かつ日本の第三国への輸出を認めていない。解禁の目論見では、制約を全て取り除いて、日本も共同生産国も第三国への輸出を可能にする。
共同開発武器輸出解禁の背景に、昨年末に英伊と結んだ次世代戦闘機システム共同製造がある。新戦闘機輸出は量産で単価を低下させ、同盟関係の広がりと緊密さをもたらす。
新戦闘機製造を担う三菱重工業等の巨大企業は、膨大な利益のみならず、世界最先端の技術を獲得していく。
平和主義の擁護を
岸田政権は、武器輸出全面解禁へ、年内での新たな閣議決定を予定する。 日本は戦争を誘発する武器の輸出国になってはならない。これは平和主義を掲げる憲法の根幹に関わる問題だ。さらに私たちは、社会を軍事で染める軍産学体制に強く反対する。
英訳版↓
No. 1323 Government’s Full Efforts in Military Industry Development
In 2014 the-then Abe administration made a cabinet decision to allow export of weapons, which is incorporated in the Three Principles to Transfer of Defense Equipment. Today the Kishida government, backed up by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, is to lift the rules to prohibit weapons’ export completely.
NEW SOCIALIST PARTY IS AGAINST LIFTING RULES OF PROHIBITION OF ARMS EXPORT
The Kishida government decided on the new National Security Strategy in his Cabinet’s meeting late last December; it declared to develop military industries as ‘powerful, sustainable businesses’, describing that ‘the country’s defense production and technology basis constitutes very defense capability’. The core element lies in full-fledged lifting of the ban to export weapons after revising the relevant documents on the transfer rules.
We see two focal points: firstly, to export lethal weapons and, secondly, to export to third nations from Japan weapons jointly developed and produced with other countries.
The LDP and the Komeito have teams to work on reviewing the rules together with the government.
Export of lethal weapons
The current rules on the transfer of defense equipment set limits; a purpose must fall into the five categories of armament, which are for rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance and minesweeping. Furthermore, the guidelines ban vessels from mounting lethal weapons.
The government is intended (1) to approve equipping with lethal weapons, and, at the same time, (2) not to apply the restrictions based on the current arms’ categories.
The Kishida administration legislated on June 7 this year the Act to Strengthen Defense Production Basis. In accordance with the law the government has established a fund to help such enterprises as involved in exporting military equipment. It will help to outlay for costs, when it is necessary for Japanese companies to improve equipment or alter their specification to respond to requests of partners.
Thus, the government will directly involve in medium-and-smaller-sized supporting business entities in this sector.
Export of Next-generation fighter jets
Concerning armament jointly developed and produced with other countries, the current rules obligate the foreign partners to obtain an arrangement from the Japanese counterpart when the former sells products to a third country, banning export of such products from Japan.
The government is planned to scrap all the restrictions so that Japan as well as partner nations of joint production could export weapons to third parties.
Behind this idea we see the agreement reached between the Japanese government and those of the United Kingdom and Italy on joint manufacturing of the next-generation fighter jets. Mass production of a new type of jets will reduce export costs, expanding and intensifying the alliance relationship.
Big corporations, like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., which will involve in manufacturing new fighter jets, will not only make an enormous sum of profit but also acquire the most sophisticated technologies of the world.
Let’s enhance pacifism!
The Kishida government has a plan to make another Cabinet’s decision by the end of the year to totally lift the ban of weapons’ export.
Japan must not be a nation to export weapons which will trigger a war. This is the very basis of the Constitution which proclaims pacifism. Furthermore, the New Socialist Party is against militarization of the society in which a military-industrial-academic complex plays a key role.
September 20, 2023