On October 19, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan's Security Research Committee endorsed a draft proposal aimed at revising the operational guidelines for the Three Principles on Defense Equipment Transfers. The proposal seeks to eliminate the previous restrictions on arms exports limited to five categories, which included purposes such as rescue, transportation, surveillance, and mine-clearing, thereby allowing for broader arms exports. Additionally, it supports the export of finished products made from international joint development projects to countries other than the original partner country, referred to as third countries.

Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara emphasized the need to strengthen ties with like-minded countries through arms exports in light of increasingly severe security environments. The revised guidelines effectively loosen previous restrictions on the export of lethal weapons, opening up avenues for sales to nations with which Japan has established defense equipment transfer agreements—currently with 17 countries. While discussions surrounding the potential sale of lethal weapons to Ukraine in reaction to Russia's aggression remain contentious, the draft proposal specifically states that exports to nations currently engaged in active combat will generally be prohibited unless in exceptional circumstances deemed necessary for security.

The proposal also suggests improvements in the export process, recommending the government to enhance cooperation with ruling party members and to better communicate the rationale behind arms exports to the National Diet and the public, although it does not delineate specific measures for implementation. This development marks a significant shift in Japan’s defense and foreign policy, reflecting a growing willingness to engage in arms trade within an increasingly volatile global security landscape.