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Japan Relaxes Export Restrictions to Sell Patriot Missiles to U.S.
The policy change could shore up American supplies of the weapon, allowing Washington to send more to Ukraine to help in its war against Russia.
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Patriot missiles in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The country has changed regulations on the export of weapons that have been in place for most of the post-World War II era. Credit...Kyodo News, via Getty Images
By Motoko Rich and Hisako Ueno
Reporting from Tokyo
Dec. 22, 2023, 6:58 a.m. ET
Japan will allow the sale of advanced air defense systems to the United States to help bolster American military stockpiles at a time when Washington is continuing to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
The move by Tokyo follows a change in Japan’s restrictions on the export of weapons, rules that have been in place for most of the post-World War II era. After a meeting of Japan’s National Security Council on Friday, Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief cabinet secretary, told reporters that the country could now sell Patriot missiles made under license from American companies.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first relaxed some export restrictions in 2014, but the rules still prevented Japan from transferring lethal weapons to regions in conflict, and they limited sales of licensed equipment to parts rather than complete systems.
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Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times. More about Motoko Rich
Hisako Ueno has been reporting on Japanese politics, business, gender, labor and culture for The Times since 2012. She previously worked for the Tokyo bureau of The Los Angeles Times from 1999 to 2009. More about Hisako Ueno
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