Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on April 15 2026. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images The Japanese government has announced plans to lift a ban on lethal weapons exports, marking the latest shift away from the country's post-war pacifist policy . In a statement on social media on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi...
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on April 15 2026. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images The Japanese government has announced plans to lift a ban on lethal weapons exports, marking the latest shift away from the country's post-war pacifist policy . In a statement on social media on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said "no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone," according to a Google translation. She added that it was essential that partner countries support each other with defense equipment "in an increasingly severe security environment." The policy change paves the way for the country to export warships, missiles, and other weapons. Japan, which has been ramping up defense spending in recent years, is seeking to counter regional security threats and support partner countries during wars in the Middle East and Ukraine . Japan and Australia recently signed a $7.15 billion deal for Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build three warships for Australia's navy. Opponents to the rule change have said that the policy shift could exacerbate global tensions, with protesters waving flags saying "No War" and voicing their support for the country's Article 9 provision during demonstrations in recent weeks. A demonstrator holds a flag reading "No War" during the "No war! Don't change the Constitution!" rally outside the main gate of the National Diet Building, to call for the protection of Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, in Tokyo on April 19, 2026. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution. In 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration reinterpreted Article 9 to allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to more actively contribute to international peacekeeping efforts and defend allies. "There is absolutely no change in our commitment to upholding the path and fundamental principles we...
Robbins was forced out as Foreign Office permanent secretary over the Mandelson vetting revelations in the Guardian According to the report by Steven Swinford and Oliver Wright in the Times , Olly Robbins will tell the foreign affairs committee that he never actually read the full developed vetting report on Peter Mandelson. They say: The Times has been told that Robbins will use an appearance bef...
Robbins was forced out as Foreign Office permanent secretary over the Mandelson vetting revelations in the Guardian According to the report by Steven Swinford and Oliver Wright in the Times , Olly Robbins will tell the foreign affairs committee that he never actually read the full developed vetting report on Peter Mandelson. They say: The Times has been told that Robbins will use an appearance before the foreign affairs select committee on Tuesday to reveal that he did not see the formal recommendation by UK Security Vetting (UKSV), the body that vets public appointments, stating that Mandelson should not be given clearance. He was given a verbal briefing by the Foreign Office’s security team and told that UKSV considered Mandelson’s case to be “borderline”, although if the decision was UKSV’s, it was likely to oppose giving him clearance. Robbins assessed the “outstanding risks” and concluded that they could be mitigated. You’re saying [Mandelson] should never have been appointed [as US ambassador] and I agree with you … I steered well clear of Peter Mandelson when I became Labour leader in 2010. That it could blow up, that it could go wrong. I had a conversation with David Lammy about it before the appointment, and I said I was worried about it … I think he was worried about it too. Maybe I wasn’t the person that people would necessarily ask, I think people knew my view on Peter Mandelson. You’re asking me should Keir Starmer resign over the appointment of Lord Mandelson? And I’m saying to you, no, I don’t think he should. Because I think if every time a prime minister made a mistake they resigned, we would shuttle through prime ministers like nobody’s business. Continue reading...
Monarch says Elizabeth II would have been troubled by recent events but she believed ‘goodness will always prevail’ King Charles has said his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, would have been troubled deeply by current affairs as he paid a heartfelt tribute to her on what would have been her 100th birthday. In a video message to honour the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, he said she had “remaine...
Monarch says Elizabeth II would have been troubled by recent events but she believed ‘goodness will always prevail’ King Charles has said his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, would have been troubled deeply by current affairs as he paid a heartfelt tribute to her on what would have been her 100th birthday. In a video message to honour the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, he said she had “remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served”. Continue reading...