Yohei Kono

"We can't lightly tolerate proposals that call for exporting weapons," Kono said at a lecture in Tokyo, referring to the business lobby's stance.

Federation officials July 20 cited concerns that the domestic defense industry will languish amid the continuing contraction of the nation's defense budget, and called on the government and opposition to review the ban, which has been in place since 1967.

Nippon Keidanren's proposal states that "while respecting the concept (of the export ban), it is necessary to re-examine arms export management in consideration of the national interests, instead of a blanket ban."

On July 21, Kono said, "If the notion just involves the business community, then we need only to urge business leaders to do some soul-searching.

"But if (the review idea) was made in conjunction with elements within political circles, it is a very grave matter."

In line with the so-called Three Principles on Arms Exports policy guideline, Japan has refrained from exporting arms.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 31, 2004
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