TOKYO: Japan’s ruling coalition will consider adding items related to land mine removal and education training to the list of defense equipment that the country is allowed to export, people familiar with the matter said.

Working-level officials from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, will start discussions on the review of the country’s guidelines about defense equipment transfer in earnest on Wednesday. They plan to reach a certain conclusion as early as this summer.

The current guidelines allow Japan to export defense equipment related to rescue, transport, alerts, surveillance and minesweeping to countries that cooperate with Tokyo in national security areas.

Late last year, the Japanese government proposed adding land mine removal and education training equipment to the list, but the ruling camp postponed a decision on the matter.

The government thinks land mine removal equipment will support Ukraine’s reconstruction from Russia’s war. It is also considering exporting training aircraft to Southeast Asia to counter China’s maritime expansion.

Japan has agreed with Britain and Italy to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet. The ruling bloc will also discuss easing restrictions on exports of such internationally developed equipment to third countries.

Some defense industry lobby groups are calling for allowing the country to export lethal equipment, and some LDP members close to the Defense Ministry support the proposal.

Jiji Press