TOKYO – Japanese citizens staged a protest rally on Thursday evening in front of the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, voicing strong opposition to the government’s plan to scrap restrictions on the export of lethal weapons.
The demonstration came as government is considering revising the implementation guidelines for the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology in the near future.
Protesters held placards reading “Oppose lifting the five-category restriction”, “No to arms exports”, and “Japan must not become a merchant of death”, while chanting slogans such as “No repeating past mistakes” and “We reject war”. Participants expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction over the Takaichi administration’s move to loosen constraints on lethal weapons exports.
Protester Taniguchi told Xinhua that she was deeply worried about the government’s attempt to allow weapons exports without restrictions. She said she does not want Japan to become a “merchant of death” and hopes that the spirit of the Constitution will be upheld.
Another participant argued that easing restrictions on lethal weapons exports would clearly violate Japan’s Constitution, adding that the current administration appears to have no intention of adhering to constitutional principles.
Japan’s current defense equipment export guidelines limit defense equipment exports to five noncombat categories, namely rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping. However, the government is considering removing these restrictions, in principle allowing exports of lethal equipment such as fighter jets and destroyers, including to countries engaged in armed conflict under “special circumstances”.
The proposed shift has sparked widespread concern and criticism across Japan, with opponents warning that it could mark a significant departure from the country’s long-standing pacifist stance.