Japan’s government has sanctioned the international sale of its forthcoming fighter jets, a project in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Italy, marking a significant shift from its traditionally pacifist stance.
This approval modifies the nation’s arms export guidelines, permitting the sale of these advanced jets to nations that have established defense agreements with Japan and are not engaged in active conflicts.
Amid rising concerns over threats from China and North Korea, Japan has committed to a doubling of its defense budget by 2027.
Each transaction involving the sale of these fighter jets will necessitate explicit approval from the Japanese cabinet, according to official statements.
The initiative, known as the Tempest project, was joined by Japan in December 2022. This venture aims to create a new breed of fighter jet, incorporating artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art sensors to enhance pilot performance. The deployment of the jets is anticipated by 2035, marking Japan’s inaugural defense equipment development collaboration outside its longstanding alliance with the United States.
This development precedes Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s upcoming official visit to the United States in April. During his visit, Kishida is expected to emphasise Japan’s strong alliance with Washington and its eagerness to engage more deeply in defense collaborations.
Prime Minister Kishida has articulated that exporting these warplanes to third countries is pivotal for Japan to uphold its reliability as a participant in future international defense initiatives.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, a government spokesperson, underscored on Tuesday the importance of bringing this fighter jet project to fruition, saying it had a crucial role in safeguarding national security and defense capabilities, according to a report in UK state broadcaster the BBC.
Nevertheless, Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara has reassured that Japan will adhere to its foundational pacifist principles by implementing “rigorous decision-making processes” for any exports.
Following World War II, Japan, under American occupation, adopted a constitution renouncing war and the use of force in international conflicts, limiting its military forces strictly for defensive purposes.
The country had imposed a complete ban on arms exports, which was first relaxed in 2014 during Shinzo Abe’s tenure as Prime Minister.
In December 2023, Japan further eased restrictions, allowing for the export of lethal weaponry produced under foreign licenses to the licensing country. This adjustment enabled Tokyo to supply the United States with Patriot air defense missiles, a critical component of the U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
The RNZAF Texans need to be modified with hard points on the wings, and the back-seat converted to an AW position. A stand-off shoot-down capability perfectly suits the airframe, as a stop-gap measure until Textron Scorpions are added to the Tactical Air Arm Fleet.
We also need to expand the inventory to three Air Defence Squadrons of the affordable Beechcraft Texans, and base them in *Ohakea, (*already there…), Blenheim and lower *South Island. (*at the new airfield being built for research).
Meanwhile, two Squadrons of Tactical Air Defence Scorpions should be added to the inventory at Ohakea and Blenheim. These afford high-speed interception with the Texans serving as a secondary defensive asset…
The RNZ Navy should be re-structured and be re-designated as the RNZ Coast Guard. No more UN / NATO / AUKUS / ANZUS involvements in the Zionist Proxy Wars. Littoral Vessels then make-up the fleet, with support vessels supporting both the fleet and the Antarctica Mission(s).
The RNZ Coast Guard then becomes the RNZ Lifesaving Service-Water, thus complimenting the RNZ Lifesaving Service-Land, and RNZ Lifesaving Service – Air.
This plan of yours, IF implemented with the whispers of Neutrality, would work well, and same hundreds of millions of Kiwi taxpayer dollars!
Problem is, most of the politicians are keeping quiet, as they don’t want to insult those who have lined their pockets via proxy wars and their investments in the Military Industrial Complex on Wall Street!