Japan To Send Missiles To US In Notable Shift In Weapons Export Stance

WSJ reports that Japan has confirmed it will send Patriot missiles to the US, bolstering American stocks and allowing Washington to increase its provision of the interceptor missiles to Ukraine. The decision from Tokyo is viewed as a landmark one, given that Japan has for decades had legal restrictions in place prohibiting weapons exports.

• As WSJ reports "the Japanese government said it would loosen controls on defense exports to allow weapons made in Japan under license to be sent to the license-issuing country." The missiles are made by Mistubishi Heavy Industries under license from US firms Lockheed Martin and RTX.
• Yoshimasa Hayashi, a spokesman for the Japanese gov't stated that “This initiative has great significance from the perspective of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance,”
• WSJ: "Tokyo said there would be no degradation of its ability to defend itself from ballistic missiles from North Korea or elsewhere. Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said Friday’s decision showed Tokyo’s commitment to supporting international security, coming after Japan’s decision to sharply raise military spending and deepen a defense partnership with South Korea."