Japan Not To Rule Out Arms Exports To Nations Involved In Conflicts

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency)  Japan plans to ease its self-imposed restrictions on arms exports by not ruling out delivering weapons to nations involved in international conflicts, signaling a major policy shift in its long-held "three principles" on arms exports that ban such action, a Japanese government source said Sunday. Critics warn the change could undermine Japan's pacifist stance after World War II and pave the way for Japanese-made weapons and technology to be used in global conflicts, reported Japan's Kyodo news agency . The change is expected to be reflected in Japan's envisioned new arms export control guidelines as the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reviewing the current rules, believing that weapons exports would help boost Japan's security ties with its allie