By PAUL KALLENDER-UMEZU
TOKYO — International defense deals that followed the partial relaxation of Japan’s longstanding ban on weapon exports may signal that Japan’s defense industry is beginning to stretch its wings in the global market.
But projected boosts in defense spending combined with a more assertive defense policy is not expected to quickly transform Japan’s defense industry into a world player unless important legal, administrative and structural issues are solved, experts say.
This May, following talks between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, the two countries agreed to explore a deal for Japan to export up to 15 US-2 amphibious aircraft built by Japan’s ShinMaywa to India.
In July, Japan and the UK signed agreements for research, development and production of defense equipment, and collaboration on information security, initially on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection equipment.
Until a 2011 revision of restrictions that largely banned Japan from selling defense equipment internationally, Japan couldn’t even contemplate such deals. Now, it’s starting to stretch its legs, largely led by top-level diplomatic efforts with business support, said Satoshi Tsuzukibashi, director of the Office of Defense Production, Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), Japan’s most powerful industrial and business lobby, which promoted the UK deal.
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