Japan may loosen ban on missile exports

TOKYO, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The Japanese government is considering easing regulations on arms exports as part of a missile project with the United States, Mainichi reported Thursday.

Japan bans the export of weaponry and related technologies to communist countries and adheres to the U.N. ban on providing arms to nations involved in international conflicts.

However, these regulations now hinder the joint study of the missile defense system with the United States because of a possibility U.S. exports to a third party could contain Japanese technology.

The Japanese government decided to begin the joint study in December 1998, but Tokyo has not yet taken part in the development stage of the system.