Dangerous New Trend: Japan to Export Frigates to Australia, Experts Say It's Essentially About Regional Confrontation

[Global Times Report, Reporter Xing Xiaojing] According to reports from various media outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Japan Times, and Reuters, Australia and Japan signed a military procurement agreement on the 18th, under which Japan will supply upgraded "Mogami" class frigates to Australia, with a project scale reaching 10 billion Australian dollars. This could become Japan's largest post-war military export deal, and the most influential defense equipment export project since the establishment of the "Three Principles on Defense Equipment Transfer" in 2014.

Reuters reported that Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi signed a memorandum in Melbourne on the 18th, reaffirming the commitment of both governments to the "smooth delivery of new vessels." The project plans to build 11 frigates, with delivery expected to start in 2029. The first three vessels will be constructed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, while the remaining eight will be built in Australia.

The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on the 19th that this frigate export is Japan's first large-scale defense equipment transfer project. Frigates are classified as weaponry with offensive capabilities, and under the current "Three Principles on Defense Equipment Transfer," the export of such equipment is generally restricted; however, exports for the purpose of "international joint development" are permitted.

According to Reuters, the upgraded "Mogami" class frigates possess anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense capabilities. Australia plans to deploy them to safeguard critical maritime trade routes and strategic passages in the northern part of Australia in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The report also stated that this agreement, reached last August, marks Japan's gradual departure from post-war pacifism, attempting to break out of the Japan-U.S. alliance framework and build external security cooperation to address the so-called "China threat."

Military expert Zhang Junsha stated in an interview with Global Times reporters on the 19th that Japan's plan to sell a large number of "Mogami" class frigates to Australia is an important move in its recent attempts to break through weapon export restrictions. This cooperation between Japan and Australia essentially aims at regional confrontation and forming a small circle, which will undermine regional peace and stability. Zhang Junsha believes that as a country that was an aggressor and a defeated nation in World War II, Japan's export of weapons and attempts to develop its defense industry violate relevant international laws and its pacifist constitution and "defense-only" policy. This series of actions will undoubtedly further undermine regional peace and stability, and the international community needs to remain highly vigilant about this.

The Japanese House of Councillors recently passed the budget proposal for the fiscal year 2026, with the defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen, setting a new historical high. The Japanese government also plans to formally amend the "Three Principles on Defense Equipment Transfer," in principle allowing the export of lethal weapons. On the 19th, tens of thousands of Japanese citizens held large protest rallies around the Japanese Parliament, opposing the government of Sanae Takaichi's push to lift restrictions on weapon exports and amend the pacifist constitution, which they see as a dangerous trend towards militarization. Protesters believe these actions violate the pacifist spirit of the Japanese constitution and exacerbate regional tensions.

In response to Japan's recent dangerous trends, Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang stated on the 17th that various signs indicate that Japan's right-wing forces are accelerating the shift of security policies towards offensive and expansionist directions. Their actions seriously violate the provisions of internationally effective documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation, and Japan's Instrument of Surrender, and seriously contravene Japan's constitution and existing domestic regulations, posing a severe threat to the post-war international order and regional peace and stability. Zhang Xiaogang stated: "We urge Japan to stop its regressive actions and completely sever ties with militarism; otherwise, it will only lose credibility with its Asian neighbors and the international community."