The Japanese and US governments are set to establish a public-private framework as early as this year to cooperate on the development of defense equipment utilizing dual-use technologies, Japan’s Kyodo News reported on Sunday, citing sources.
The latest military collaboration plan between Tokyo and Washington signals another aggressive shift by Japan one that an expert describes as a “wild horse running out of control.” This accelerating push toward remilitarization poses a growing threat to regional and global stability, a trajectory that analysts said will not be accepted by its neighboring countries.
Kyodo News reported that under the public-private framework between the two governments, the first step is expected to be the production in Japan of drones developed by US startups. The aim, according to the report, is to counter China, which holds a high share of the drone market, while also strengthening defense-related supply chains, multiple sources related to this matter claimed as cited by the Kyodo News on Sunday.
Last week, the Japanese government officially revised “the three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology” and their implementation guidelines to allow overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities, despite waves of large-scale protests, Xinhua cited local media as saying.
Kyodo News claimed on Sunday that the new export rules leave room for exceptional exports to countries in conflict, with the US in mind.
It also raised concerns that lethal attack-type drones produced in Japan could be used in actual combat or exported to third countries.
This framework concept is being led by the multiple Japanese ministries, and the US Department of Defense, along with US embassy in Japan, Kyodo News claimed.
This arrangement is a classic “marriage of convenience,” Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times, noting that following Japan’s revision of its “the three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology,” Washington is eager to tap into Japan’s unleashed production capacity as US manufacturers struggle to meet surging wartime demand.
For Tokyo, this cooperationāalongside its participation in the Balikatan 2026 joint military exercisesāserves as a vehicle for weapon exports. Song argues these moves are part of a broader scheme to transform Japan into a major military power, signaling a resurgence of militaristic ambitions from a nation that has yet to demonstrate genuine repentance for its historical actions.
The US has consistently utilized Japan as a strategic pawn to advance its regional and global interests, Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times.
Zhang said that in its attempt to maintain hegemony, Washington is essentially disregarding its post-WWII obligations as a victorious Allied power. The US is emboldening Japan for its own ends, employing Tokyo as a proxy to contain and deter global competitors, said Zhang.
The Kyodo News report also draw certain criticism among Japanese netizens. On X, a user under the name of HiromichiSuga noted that “since the Takaichi traitor regime took power, it’s been nothing but this kind of news every day… Japan is just going to have its money and technology snatched away by the US.”
“So we’re talking about handing over everything developed in Japan to the US military unconditionally? Because the US is eventually planning to stab the Japanese in the back,” wrote another under the name of Exodus.
When asked to make comments on Japan’s recent dangerous moves in the military and security fields, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson from Chinese foreign ministry said on April 24 that Japanese neo-militarism spreads rapidly and dangerously, which is already a reality and imposes real threats to the world.
Guo said that Japan’s moves, including proposing revisions to its pacifist constitution, relaxing restrictions on weapons exports, deploying offensive missiles, and massively increasing its military budget, fully expose its true intention to pave the way for military expansion.
The lessons of Japanese history of militarist aggression are not far away, Guo said, adding countries in the region including China must not allow Japanese militarism to be revived, not allow the tragedies of history to be repeated and not allow anyone or any force to undermine peace in the region.
