The Japanese government is preparing to revise the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Act to permit, under “special exceptions,” transfer of surplus defense equipment—including lethal weapons—to foreign governments either free or below market price, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday. The amendment is targeted for the Diet’s regular session next year, with the necessity stated explicitly in the revised National Security Strategy this year.
Global Times reports that the SDF Act revision is the mechanism for revising the April 21 revision of Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, which lifted the prohibition on exporting weapons with lethal capabilities. Concrete deals are already in negotiation. The Philippines is considering acquiring the “Abukuma"-class destroyer escort—which would be the first Japanese export of a used destroyer escort. Indonesia has expressed interest in the “Oyashio"-class submarine. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is scheduled to visit both countries in May.
The export pivot is part of an accelerating Japanese military repositioning. Japan is currently participating, with 1,400 personnel, in the U.S.-Philippines Balikatan 2026 joint exercise (April 20-May 8), featuring live-fire operations in northern Luzon facing the Taiwan Strait.