China vigilant as Japan relaxes arms export regime to fortify defence

Japan yesterday lifted a self-imposed ban on weapons exports, introducing new rules for the arms trade that supporters say will boost Tokyo's global role, but which unnerved China.

The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a new plan that replaces the 1967 blanket ban, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

Under the new policy, arms sales are banned to conflict-plagued countries or nations that could undermine international peace and security, and sales must contribute to international peace and boost officially pacifist Japan's security.

"We have made the procedure for transfer of defence equipment more transparent. That will contribute to peace and international co-operation from the standpoint of proactive pacifism," Suga said.

"And we will participate in joint development and production of defence equipment."

Japan's post-second-world-war constitution, imposed by the US-led occupiers, banned the country from waging war.

That pacifism was embraced by the population at large and two decades later a weapons export ban was introduced.