Regarding the export of defense equipment jointly developed with other countries, such as the next generation of fighter jets, to third countries, the gap remains between the government and the Liberal Democratic Party, which wants to allow exports, and the New Komeito Party, which is cautious, making it difficult to reach an agreement within the month.
The government is expected to begin full-fledged trilateral talks on the next generation of fighter jets, which are being developed with Britain and Italy, from next month onward, so the government has requested that the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party jointly develop defense equipment with other countries within this month. We are requesting that exports to third countries be permitted.
For this reason, following the working-level consultations, the two parties have been raising the level of consultations since last week to be held by the Chairman of the Political Affairs Research Council, and have decided to hold a second meeting on the 28th.
The Liberal Democratic Party wants to allow exports, saying, ``If approval is not reached before the trilateral talks begin, it could put us at a disadvantage in the talks,'' and they hope to obtain agreement by putting certain limits on the exports. .
On the other hand, the New Komeito Party remains cautious, saying, ``At the stage when joint development was decided, there was no discussion of exporting the finished product, and the public's understanding of the change in policy has not deepened.''
The current situation is that the gap between the two parties has not been bridged, making it difficult to reach an agreement within this month.