August 6 & 11, 2025

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku (House of Councillors) at a hearing with the Defense Ministry on August 8 criticized the planned export to and joint development with Australia of warships.

Three days earlier, the Australian government announced that regarding its project to upgrade its naval force, it has chosen Japan’s proposal to jointly develop a new vessel based on the Maritime Self Defense Force’s state-of-the-art Mogami-class frigate. If the two countries reach an agreement, Japan will export a combatant ship to a foreign government for the first time.

The Defense Ministry plans to develop eleven frigates jointly with Australia and one of them will be built in Japan and exported to Australia by the end of 2029.

However, the export of lethal weapons is restricted even under the “Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology” which effectively allows for Japan’s arms exports.

At the hearing, asked about this point, a ministry official explained that as the development and manufacture of Mogami-class battle ships is a Japan-Australia joint project, Japan can export those ships to Australia.

Furthermore, in response to a question about Australia’s unintended use and transfer to third countries of the jointly developed warships, the official explained that Japan will conclude with Australia an agreement requiring prior consent from the Japanese government, which will ensure the proper management of those ships.

Yamazoe pointed out that despite the agreement, Japan will not be able to put a stop to any unintended use by co-development partner of Australia.