Japan's decision to revise its rules on arms export poses a threat to regional security, according to Russian experts.
The Japanese government officially revised "the three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines on Tuesday to enable overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.
Talking to China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the issue, Victor Kuzminkov, lead researcher of the Group of Economics and Politics of Japan at the Center for Asia Pacific Studies of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), said Japan's departure from pacifist principles is a source of particular concern for China, especially given the current leadership's stance on the Taiwan question. "Japan has finally agreed to abandon its pacifist stance and has taken up arms. This cannot help but alarm China, especially under the leadership of Sanae Takaichi, who has made it clear that Japan will not abandon Taiwan, and will certainly continue to supply weapons in the future. I'm saying that it's not just the presence of weapons, but also Japan's policy that will contribute to destabilizing the situation in the region. And if, generally speaking, a conflict were to arise in Northeast Asia, it would almost certainly become global very quickly, because there are so many contradictions here," said Kuzminkov.
Andrei Kortunov, director general of the Russian Council for International Affairs, views Tokyo's decision as a conciliatory gesture toward Washington aimed at deepening military integration among allies in the Pacific region.
"In a sense, this decision can be seen as a step toward the United States, an attempt to assist the Trump administration. This step certainly provides an opportunity to move further toward deepening the integration of the U.S. and its allies in the Pacific region in the military sphere, including the latest military technologies. This is an unhealthy trend that increases the risks of both political crises and military conflicts in this region," he explained.
Japan's lifting of ban on lethal arms exports threatens regional security: Russian experts
