<p>Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday held a meeting with a panel of&nbsp;his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, its minor partner in the government to consider supplying defence equipment and technology to other countries. The move is aimed at resuscitating&nbsp;the country's defence industry where research and development has become unprofitable due to the export ban.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the address, Kishida called on the coalition to find an acceptable way around the unwritten rules or the guidelines that control the country's defence exports. He also informed that the government will soon present its view on the matter.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Three principles&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>According to three principles adopted on exports of weapons in 1967, Japan banned the sales of weapons to communist nations, those under United Nations embargoes and countries currently or about to be engaged in an armed conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-military-expansion-raises-concern-over-regional-stability-616936">Watch |&nbsp;China's military expansion raises concern over regional stability</a></strong></p>

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<p>LDP and Kometio on July 5 presented a working report, reviewing the 'three principles'. The report argued that Japan would agree to export defence equipment with lethal weaponry, including non-combat vehicles and ships to nations with which Tokyo collaborates on security matters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Japanese media reports state that the&nbsp;government is heavily leaning towards abolishing the prohibition on weapons exports as the next-generation fighters are sure to be shipped by ally countries, such as Britain and Italy, to third nations regardless of Japan's policies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-considering-exporting-weapons-to-countries-under-invasion-report-570482"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Japan considering exporting weapons to countries under invasion: Report</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Russia-Ukraine war</strong></h2>

<p>However, the most prominent reason to revisit the principles might be the Russia-Ukraine war.&nbsp;Several countries have militarily aided Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian offensive on February 24 last year. Japan also offered help to Ukraine. But Tokyo has only sent bulletproof vests, helmets, and medical kits due to Tokyo's pacifist laws forbidding sending weapons to the war-torn country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seeing the&nbsp;allies and their military industries making huge profits, Tokyo may have been charmed into loosening its position. Lifting the ban could suddenly make the Japanese defence sector lucrative once again, bring in a tax windfall and create more jobs while reducing reliance on expensive defence imports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the government mulls its stance, a poll published by Nikkie earlier this year showed that only 16 per cent&nbsp;of the respondents supported Japan sending arms to Ukraine while 76 per cent&nbsp;were against it.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday held a meeting with a panel of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, its minor partner in the government to consider supplying defence equipment and technology to other countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday held a meeting with a panel of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, its minor partner in the government to consider supplying defence equipment and technology to other countries. The move is aimed at resuscitating the country's defence industry where research and development has become unprofitable due to the export ban. During the address, Kishida called on the coalition to find an acceptable way around the unwritten rules or the guidelines that control the country's defence exports. He also informed that the government will soon present its view on the matter. Three principles According to three principles adopted on exports of weapons in 1967, Japan banned the sales of weapons to communist nations, those under United Nations embargoes and countries currently or about to be engaged in an armed conflict. Watch | China's military expansion raises concern over regional stability × LDP and Kometio on July 5 presented a working report, reviewing the 'three principles'. The report argued that Japan would agree to export defence equipment with lethal weaponry, including non-combat vehicles and ships to nations with which Tokyo collaborates on security matters. Japanese media reports state that the government is heavily leaning towards abolishing the prohibition on weapons exports as the next-generation fighters are sure to be shipped by ally countries, such as Britain and Italy, to third nations regardless of Japan's policies. Also read | Japan considering exporting weapons to countries under invasion: Report Russia-Ukraine war However, the most prominent reason to revisit the principles might be the Russia-Ukraine war. Several countries have militarily aided Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian offensive on February 24 last year. Japan also offered help to Ukraine. But Tokyo has only sent bulletproof vests, helmets, and medical kits due to Tokyo's pacifist laws forbidding sending weapons to the war-torn country. Seeing the allies and their military industries making huge profits, Tokyo may have been charmed into loosening its position. Lifting the ban could suddenly make the Japanese defence sector lucrative once again, bring in a tax windfall and create more jobs while reducing reliance on expensive defence imports. While the government mulls its stance, a poll published by Nikkie earlier this year showed that only 16 per cent of the respondents supported Japan sending arms to Ukraine while 76 per cent were against it. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Is Japan looking to supply lethal arms to Ukraine?

South Korea is using a $13.7 billion arms deal with Poland, Seoul's biggest ever - to lay the groundwork for a military-industrial juggernaut that the two nations' defence companies hope will feed Europe's hunger for weapons far into the future.

South Korea signs $13.7 billion arms deal with Poland

China is reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabia and Egypt for major arms deals as the countries seek to diversify their weapons supplies to become less reliant on the United States and Russia for their defence needs.

China negotiates arms deal with Saudi Arabia and Egypt

<p>It has been revealed that former Labour&nbsp;UK Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded Kuwait to buy the latest British artillery equipment in the late 90s, particularly the&nbsp;AS90 howitzer, to compensate for receiving support from the European nation during the Gulf War.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reportedly, from 1998 to 1999, the British PM made several overtures in front of&nbsp;Kuwait’s Sheikh Sa’ad to sell the weapons. Such was Blair's attempt to seek a deal that during a return journey to Britain from South Africa, he used the layover to call the Sheikh and further the talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Labour leader even wrote letters to the crown prince where he claimed AS90 as 'the best 155mm gun in the world today'. Blair's aggressive sales tactics came in the backdrop of the US offering its much cheaper M109 howitzer to Kuwait. Blair did not want the deal to go through and thus played the emotional card. However, Sheikh&nbsp;Sa’ad made it clear that the price of AS90 was too high.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The prime minister raised the AS90. It was an effective weapon, although he knew the US had offered the M109. He hoped very much that all the support we had given Kuwait would be remembered." private Secretary Philip Barton at 10, Downing Street wrote in a letter.</p>

<p>Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-kingdom-how-much-will-former-uk-pm-boris-johnson-earn-after-office-498679">United Kingdom: How much will former UK PM Boris Johnson earn after office?</a></p>

<p>According to internal briefing notes released by UK's National Archives, Blair was put under pressure after he was told that the government was 'frankly disappointed' to have 'won so little Kuwaiti defence business since the end of Gulf war'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite Blair's best lobbying efforts, Kuwait could not be persuaded and two months after his meeting with the Sheikh, the West Asian country signed with the US to acquire the M109 howitzers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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<strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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It has been revealed that former Labour UK Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded Kuwait to buy the latest British artillery equipment in the late 90s, particularly the AS90 howitzer, to compensate for receiving support from the European nation during the Gulf War.

It has been revealed that former Labour UK Prime Minister Tony Blair persuaded Kuwait to buy the latest British artillery equipment in the late 90s, particularly the AS90 howitzer, to compensate for receiving support from the European nation during the Gulf War. Reportedly, from 1998 to 1999, the British PM made several overtures in front of Kuwait’s Sheikh Sa’ad to sell the weapons. Such was Blair's attempt to seek a deal that during a return journey to Britain from South Africa, he used the layover to call the Sheikh and further the talks. The Labour leader even wrote letters to the crown prince where he claimed AS90 as 'the best 155mm gun in the world today'. Blair's aggressive sales tactics came in the backdrop of the US offering its much cheaper M109 howitzer to Kuwait. Blair did not want the deal to go through and thus played the emotional card. However, Sheikh Sa’ad made it clear that the price of AS90 was too high. “The prime minister raised the AS90. It was an effective weapon, although he knew the US had offered the M109. He hoped very much that all the support we had given Kuwait would be remembered." private Secretary Philip Barton at 10, Downing Street wrote in a letter. Read More: United Kingdom: How much will former UK PM Boris Johnson earn after office? According to internal briefing notes released by UK's National Archives, Blair was put under pressure after he was told that the government was 'frankly disappointed' to have 'won so little Kuwaiti defence business since the end of Gulf war'. Despite Blair's best lobbying efforts, Kuwait could not be persuaded and two months after his meeting with the Sheikh, the West Asian country signed with the US to acquire the M109 howitzers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

The time when Tony Blair became an arms salesman; wanted a favour from Kuwait for support in the Gulf war

The United Arab Emirates suspended talks on a $23 billion deal to buy American-made F-35 planes, armed drones and other equipment after the US imposed stringent conditions on the purchase.

UAE halts military deal talks with United States

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Is Japan looking to supply lethal arms to Ukraine?

South Korea signs $13.7 billion arms deal with Poland

China negotiates arms deal with Saudi Arabia and Egypt

The time when Tony Blair became an arms salesman; wanted a favour from Kuwait for support in the Gulf war

UAE halts military deal talks with United States