Tokyo’s new weapons export rules, the never-ending China-Japan rift, Thucydides Trap’s historical flaw, Global South’s central ceasefire role, Asian fossil-fuels fall, and BTS manager’s arrest warrant.

Japan this week lifted restrictions on lethal weapons exports, sparking what local media called a wave of interest from countries keen to diversify their sources of weaponry and to strengthen defence-industrial co-operation.

The Japan Times reported Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi as saying a number of countries had expressed their interests and needs.

The paper said Tokyo’s decision opened the door to integrating Japan’s high-end industrial base with global allied supply networks that were currently strained by multiple conflicts.

Governments across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Pacific had been expectingTokyo’s move, signalling strong demand for not only Japanese technology and equipment but also for joint development and production, particularly in such emerging areas as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.

In a separate story, the paper described the arms export decision as a major policy shift that abolished restrictions limiting military exports to non-lethal categories. Cabinet had decided to put defence equipment into two categories – “weapons” or lethal systems such as warships, tanks and missiles – and “non-weapons” – equipment such as radars and protective gear.

Decisions would be made by the National Security Council and sales would be limited to countries that had defence equipment and technology transfer deals with Japan. At present, that covered 17 countries but officials expected the number to grow, the paper said.

The Asahi Shimbun said the comprehensive embargo dated back to 1976. In 2014, Shinzo Abe’s government allowed the sale of non-lethal equipment used for rescue, surveillance, transportation, vigilance and minesweeping.

The sale of 11 Mogami class frigates to Australia, announced last year, is often portrayed in Japanese media as an example of potential future defence exports. The sale was allowed under another 2014 exemption covering countries with which Japan had close security ties.

Australia and Japan signed an agreement for the sale in Melbourne last weekend. The ceremony attracted modest interest in Australian media, presumably because it was a formality. But it was headline news in Japan.

The Japan Times hailed the A$20 billion deal as Japan’s largest ever defence contract. Nikkei Asia, the online business and politics magazine, said the deal promised to deepen defence industry deals between the two countries. It quoted Koizumi as saying there was no limit to the possibilities of closer security ties.

The announcements provoked a reaction from Beijing. China Daily, an official newspaper, published an academic commentary that said major defence contractors had long pushed for more permissive export rules, using lobbying and political donations.

“The most recent relaxation of the weapons export ban reflects Japan’s ongoing pursuit of ‘neo-militarism’,” the article said.

The paper also published an op-ed that homed in on the frigates deal with Australia. It said experts had warned that the defence collaboration could evolve into a 'quasi-alliance' between the two countries.

The never-ending rift

Relations between China and Japan have soured in recent months, since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made provocative........

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