Japan has approved scrapping most restrictions on overseas arms sales, paving the way for warships, tanks and missiles to be exported.
Tokyo says this will strengthen the country's defence and deter potential threats from regional powers.
But Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government emphasised the country will continue to uphold the principles of a peace-loving nation.
Currently, Japan has defence transfer agreements with 17 countries including the UAE, the US, and India.
Takuya Matsuda is an assistant professor at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.
He says the move positions Japan to strengthen its role as a regional power capable of managing any longer-term conflict.
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