The United States has expressed gratitude to Japan for its recent defense reforms and the decision to allow the shipment of Japanese-made Patriot guided missiles to the US. On Friday, Tokyo quickly approved a US request for the transfer of surface-to-air Patriot missiles produced in Japan under an American license, aiming to replenish US inventory.
Ambassador Commends Japan's Military Transformation
US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised Japan's contributions to the alliance's "reform and modernization," particularly its enhanced military capability and increased defense spending. During a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Wednesday, Emanuel stated that these moves elevate the "level of deterrence to capital D deterrence."
Shift in Arms Export Policy
The approval marks a significant departure from Japan's postwar self-defense-only principle. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government has relaxed its prohibition on lethal weapons exports, allowing the export of domestically produced weapons and components under foreign licenses back to the original licensing nations. This is the first major revision since a 2014 relaxation concerning non-lethal transfers. Further adjustments are underway to permit the sale of jointly developed lethal weapons, such as a next-generation fighter jet co-developed with Britain and Italy, to third countries.
Japan also approved a record 16.5 percent increase in defense spending for the coming year, reaching 7.95 trillion yen ($56 billion), with a focus on missile strike and defense capabilities.
Patriot Missile Shipment and Ukraine
The Patriot missile shipment has sparked speculation that they may be sent to Ukraine, as the US supplies these missiles to Kyiv. Kihara said discussions on details are ongoing, emphasizing that production and shipment plans must ensure "this will not make a hole in the defense of Japan." He described the shipment as a demonstration of the Japan-US military alliance's will and capability, and Japan's opposition to attempts to change the international order.
Pacifist groups, academics, and some opposition lawmakers have questioned the sale, arguing that Japan needs to fortify its own missile defenses against an assertive China.
US Appreciation for Japan's Reforms
Emanuel called Japan's policy revision "a capstone to a year of reform," leading to greater inventory for the US and the Indo-Pacific region. He noted that the Patriot missiles are "very helpful when we manage our inventory" for a system under stress. Emanuel highlighted that Japan's steps, from defense spending increases to planned Tomahawk deployment, underscore its transformation "from alliance protection to alliance projection."
