Japan Scraps Most Curbs on Exporting Weapons in Historic Shift

Japan removed most of its restrictions on weapons exports, allowing the nation to sell arms overseas for the first time since World War II in a move aimed at strengthening its defense industrial base.

The cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday approved changes to defense export rules that will create a larger market for companies in the arms business. Previously, businesses could only export military equipment for use in operations related to rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping.