Japan lifts ban on lethal weapons exports, boosts military spending

The Japanese government has approved a significant bump in military spending and ended the country's ban on exporting lethal weapons.

On December 22, the Cabinet of Japan decided to increase defence spending by 16 per cent and overturn the export ban which has been in place since World War II, according to Fox News.

"In taking the action, we hope to contribute to defend a free and open international order based on the rule of law and to achieve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the press following the announcement.

Kishida added that “there is no change to our principle as a pacifist nation".

Japan's first export of lethal weapons was made immediately following the change, sending Patriot-guided missiles to the United States. 

The missiles were previously manufactured in Japan under a US license.

The approval marks yet another step towards the full remilitarization of Japan, which was provided with a constitution renouncing its right to wage war by US occupying administrators following WWII.

Japan's government, headed by the powerful Liberal Democratic Party, aims to increase the country's relevance on the geopolitical stage through a series of reforms to its demilitarized status.

Territorial disputes with China and demonstrations of aggression from neighbouring North Korea have pushed Japan towards securing more formidable military capabilities.