Japan’s defence export liberalisation: neoliberal militarisation and the erosion of pacifist constitutional norms in global arms governance

Japan’s indigenous Ainu people historically resisted militarisation, viewing weapons as tools of colonial oppression rather than economic assets. The Ainu’s 1997 land rights victory highlighted how militarised development displaces Indigenous stewardship of territories. The current arms export policy disregards these perspectives, treating land and culture as collateral for corporate profit. Indigenous Pacific Islander groups, such as the Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand, have long condemned arms proliferation as a violation of relational sovereignty.

Japan’s post-WWII pacifism was a direct response to the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, enshrined in Article 9 of its 1947 constitution. The 2015 ‘reinterpretation’ of Article 9 by Abe Shinzō’s government marked the first step toward normalising collective self-defence, setting the stage for export liberalisation. Historical parallels include Germany’s post-WWII rearmament under US pressure and South Korea’s arms industry growth during the Cold War, both of which fueled regional arms races. The Meiji era’s militarisation (1868–1912) offers a cautionary tale of how rapid defence industrialisation can destabilise East Asia.

In Latin America, arms liberalisation correlates with increased state violence and cartel dominance, as seen in Mexico’s post-NAFTA arms influx. African nations like Nigeria and South Africa have documented how foreign arms exports fuel insurgencies and coups, undermining democratic governance. Pacific Islander communities, such as those in Fiji and Vanuatu, explicitly link arms proliferation to neocolonial resource extraction and climate militarisation. Japan’s policy risks replicating these patterns, particularly in Southeast Asia, where historical grievances over WWII-era atrocities remain unresolved.

Empirical studies show that arms exports correlate with increased conflict intensity and duration, particularly in post-colonial states (e.g., Small Arms Survey 2023). Japan’s defence industry expansion aligns with the ‘security dilemma’ framework, where one state’s military buildup triggers regional arms races. Research on ‘dual-use’ technologies (e.g., drones, AI) highlights how civilian-military fusion accelerates proliferation risks. The policy’s economic rationale lacks peer-reviewed evidence; instead, it relies on neoliberal assumptions about ‘efficiency’ in security provision.

Japanese art forms like *ukiyo-e* and *haiku* have long depicted war as a rupture of harmony (*wa*), contrasting with the mechanical imagery of modern arms exports. The Zen concept of *mu* (nothingness) challenges the commodification of violence, framing weapons as distortions of natural balance. In Pacific Islander traditions, dances like the *haka* or *siva* are acts of communal defence against external threats, not corporate assets. The erasure of these cultural frames in policy debates reflects a broader spiritual crisis in securitised modernity.

Scenario modelling suggests Japan’s arms export growth could trigger a regional arms race with China and South Korea, destabilising East Asia’s security architecture. By 2035, the policy may normalise AI-driven autonomous weapons in the Indo-Pacific, exacerbating civilian harm and ethical dilemmas. Climate change could intersect with militarisation, as resource scarcity (e.g., rare earth minerals) becomes a flashpoint for armed conflict. Long-term, the policy risks undermining Japan’s soft power as a ‘peaceful’ nation, alienating Global South allies who view arms proliferation as neo-colonial.

Japanese pacifist groups like *Peace Boat* and *Article 9 Association* have protested the export policy, framing it as a betrayal of constitutional values. Survivors of Hiroshima/Nagasaki, including hibakusha like Setsuko Thurlow, have condemned the move as a violation of their moral legacy. In Okinawa, Indigenous Ryukyuan communities face heightened militarisation due to US-Japan base expansions tied to arms exports. Global South activists, such as those in the Philippines, warn that Japan’s arms sales will fuel Duterte-era state violence against dissenters.