Japan's ruling coalition proposes allowing lethal arms exports

TOKYO - The Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition on Friday proposed to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a relaxing of export rules for defense equipment, seeking to allow, in principle, the transfer of lethal weapons such as fighter jets and destroyers.

The current rules limit defense equipment transfers to five noncombat purposes -- rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping. The coalition agreement reached last October by the LDP and its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party, stated that the five categories would be abolished.