TOKYO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Nearly half of Japanese people oppose easing their country's export ban on lethal weapons, a Jiji Press survey showed Thursday.
In the March survey, 48.2 percent of respondents rejected the Japanese ruling coalition's proposal to ease restrictions on arms exports and allow the export of lethal weapons.
Meanwhile, 27.0 percent of respondents said they are in favor of the idea, and 24.8 percent were undecided.
On Friday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, submitted the proposal to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as her government plans to revise the operational guidelines for the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, a move that has sparked widespread concern and criticism. ■