TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese opposition parties on Monday called for mandatory advance notification to the parliament of arms exports that exceed a certain monetary threshold, local media reported.
Senior officials from the Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito submitted proposals on revising the implementation guidelines of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology in writing to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Jiji Press reported.
The opposition move comes as the government is planning to revise the implementation guidelines' provisions as early as April, further easing restrictions on arms exports. Under the proposed changes, the government will notify the parliament of arms exports only after the fact instead of seeking prior approval, which has drawn strong criticism within Japan.
At the meeting with the opposition officials, Kihara said that the government would consider the proposals if its plan is inadequate.
The opposition forces also emphasized the necessity of "visualizing the process and impact" of abolishing the current restrictions that limit defense equipment transfers to five noncombat purposes, the report said. ■