TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised Japan’s contribution to drastic “reform and modernization” of their alliance, particularly its military capability and spending, as well as a decision to allow Japanese-made Patriot guided missiles to be shipped to the United States to make up for its decreasing inventory.
In a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Wednesday, Emanuel highlighted a number of measures Japan has taken for its military strength and the two countries’ alliance, saying they bring the “level of deterrence to capital D deterrence. “
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In the latest move, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government on Friday eased its postwar ban on deadly weapons exports, a move seen as a fundamental break with the principle of self-reliance. defense of post-war Japan. It also approved a 16. 5 percent increase in defense spending next year to a record 7. 95 trillion yen ($56 billion), with investment in missiles and defense capabilities.
The revised arms policy moves Japan to export Japanese-made weapons and parts under foreign licenses to countries that grant them. It is also the first major revision of Japan’s ban on arms exports since the movement of non-lethal weapons was suspended in 2014. The Kishida government is currently in the process of further relaxing the policy aimed at authorizing the sale of jointly developed weapons to third countries. deadly weapons, as Japan is lately developing a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy.
Japan on Friday temporarily approved a U. S. request to send Japan-produced Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles under U. S. license to supplement U. S. inventory, raising the hypothesis that they could simply be sent to Ukraine.
Kihara said on Tuesday that the two sides were still discussing the details, as officials will have to conscientiously expand production and shipping plans so that it “does not leave a gap in Japan’s defense. “
Pacifist groups, academics and some opposition lawmakers in Japan have questioned why Tokyo is selling the Patriot missiles. Critics say it also needs to fortify its missile strike and defense capabilities to be able to cope with an increasingly assertive China.
Kihara said the Patriot shipment was aimed at demonstrating the will and ability of the Japan-U. S. military alliance and ensuring Japan’s peace and ability. It also shows that Japan does not tolerate any attempt to replace the prestige quo of the foreign order, he said.
Emanuel described Japan’s review of its military sales policy as “the cornerstone of a year of reforms. ” He said this would result in higher stockpiles for the United States and the Indo-Pacific region.
“It’s vital for a formula under restrictions,” Emanuel said of the Patriot missiles, which the U. S. is supplying to Ukraine. “So, it’s very helpful when we’re managing our inventory. “Emanuel said the shipment from Japan was only for U. S. inventory. .
He said all the steps Japan has taken, from the defense spending increase to planned deployment of Tomahawks, underscore its transformation “from alliance protection to alliance projection” and that “we are very deeply appreciative.”
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