
TOKYO -- The Japanese government will work with the private sector to promote sales of defense equipment to India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, helping to provide market research and other expertise in a sector long barred from exports.
Japan has struck only four deals involving components since the 2014 revision of a rule that had prohibited the export of weapons. The change cleared the path to exports under certain conditions, such as if the equipment would contribute to peace, as a way to support the domestic defense industry.