Japan considers exporting deadly defense equipment.

The Japanese government has informed ruling parties that non-combat cars and vessels equipped with lethal arms can be exported under the nation's stringent regulations on weapons exports. Japan can export defense equipment outfitted with lethal weaponry to countries with which it has security cooperation as long as the purpose of their use is rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance or minesweeping. The government will decide whether lethal weapons can be transferred "on a case-by-case basis," given the lack of mention of the issue in the implementation guidelines of the three principles.