ABSTRACT
Japan’s progressive erosion and now full revision of its arms export ban has enabled it to expand the range and function of international arms transfer. Japan has identified a broader range of states for cooperation – still very much centred on the US, but also now NATO countries such as the UK and France. How far can Japan develop defence technology exchanges and production with the European countries; how far can Japan influence EU thinking on broader arms export relations with East Asia and towards China; and can Japan and the EU through a nascent partnership in arms exports exert influence on their respective alliance ties with the US?
