Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe established a new special weaponry export agency 40510151

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Defence & Security News - Japan
 
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe established a new special weaponry export agency
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government in Japan has established a specialized agency to facilitate the overseas sale and acquisition of weaponry. The decision is designed to deepen Tokyo’s military ties with other countries following the easing of a ban on arms exports last year, while also providing an economic boost to Japanese corporations that have long demanded the removal of restrictions.
     
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government in Japan has established a specialized agency to facilitate the overseas sale and acquisition of weaponry. The decision is designed to deepen Tokyo’s military ties with other countries following the easing of a ban on arms exports last year, while also providing an economic boost to Japanese corporations that have long demanded the removal of restrictions. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
     
The new body, the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA), was established on October 1 and will operate under the Defense Ministry. It has five main directives: as well as managing the acquisition and export of weaponry, ATLA will conduct research and development, strengthen Japan’s own military technological base, and cut costs. The government has allocated an annual budget of two trillion yen ($16.68 billion) for the agency.

ATLA will allow closer cooperation between the US and Japan on weapons technology as part of the military alliance between the two countries. Washington has been pushing Tokyo to take a more aggressive posture in Asia, and the decision to export weaponry is meant to expand Japan’s military stance throughout the region.

ATLA’s creation came one day after the official announcement of the country’s security legislation, following its approval by the upper house of parliament on September 19. The new laws will expand the role of Japan’s military, the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), to allow for “collective self-defense”—that is, to take part in US-led wars of aggression. Tokyo will now be able to dispatch the SDF anywhere overseas without the enactment of a special law and provide logistical support to an ally engaged in military action.

(Ben McGrath)