Japan approves scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports in a change of its postwar pacifist policy

George Mihalcea

(21 Apr 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo - 21 April 2026 ++STARTS ON SOUNDBITE++ 1. SOUNDBITE (English) Foster Klug, The Associated Press: "Since 1945, Japan has banned the export of lethal weapons. This was part of the pacifist constitution written by the American occupying force after the war. In a major pivot on Tuesday, the country scrapped the ban. One of the world’s biggest economies can now sell missiles, fighter jets, destroyers and other major arms technology. The move