A staff member from Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan introduces exhibits to Philippine defense officials during the Singapore Airshow 2024.
According to Japanese media reports, in late February, the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) organized key domestic military-industrial enterprises to make their debut at the Singapore Airshow 2024. Senior officials of the JMOD attended the airshow and met with government and military officials from Singapore, the Philippines and other countries. This marked the most extensive official participation of Japan in an overseas exhibition in recent years, reflecting its compelling desire to promote arms export.
Prominent exhibition presence
The Singapore Airshow, a biennial event started in 1981, is the largest and most influential airshow in Southeast Asia. This year's airshow attracted more than a thousand enterprises and institutions from 50 countries and regions. Previously, the Japanese companies had showcased independently at the airshow several times, and registered several 59 in 2020. Despite not being the largest in scale, this participation of Japan represented the debut of a delegation led by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) under the JMOD since World War II. A total of 14 military-industrial enterprises including Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Subaru were invited by the ATLA to present on its exhibition stand, and 30 other Japanese companies also took part in the show on their own.
In the exhibition areas of the JMOD, Japanese military-industrial enterprises showcased exhibition models such as P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, C-2 transport aircraft, UH-2 multi-purpose helicopter and the latest KJ-300 small turbofan engine, and also introduced other products such as early warning radar systems, satellite communication services, and AI chips for military purposes. An ATLA official said that they want to advertise Japan's technological strength to other countries and facilitate practical collaboration in defense equipment and technologies on a global scale.
The Japanese government re-modified the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and its interpretation rules at the end of 2023, further loosening the restrictions on lethal weapons export. The high-profile exhibition participation of the JMOD exhibits the emerging dynamics in Japan's arms export. As the volume of future weapon export expands, the regular presence of JMOD official groups at overseas exhibitions may become a norm.
Pursuing more than arms export
The immediate purpose of the JMOD's participation in the overseas exhibition is to demonstrate the military industrial strength and promote the weapon sales of the country, but arms export is not the sole focus of the institution as it involves intricate geopolitical security considerations.
First, it primarily targeted clients in Southeast Asia, seeking to drive more military trade orders. Perceiving this region as a crucial focus for weaponry export, Japan has long been engaged in exporting weaponry and technologies to the Philippines and other countries. The JMOD's prestigious exhibition appearance manifests a higher level of priority compared to its previous approaches. In the organization of military industrial enterprises, the institution focused on reconnaissance and surveillance, maritime patrol and military logistics, and proactively sought to align with potential customer needs for generating more military trade orders.
Second, it took the opportunity to demonstrate military strength and build momentum for the purported aspiration of a major military power. Japan has long regarded Southeast Asia as the central strategic area to crave international recognition and enhance self-influence, and also the main peddling area of the so-called "Indo-Pacific Concept." Through the exhibition, the ATLA delegation presented products ranging from large military aircraft and radar systems to metal materials and optical lenses, showcasing the country's technological prowess and military strength from different angles. In addition to providing scenario options for future military cooperation including arms export, the institution aimed to amass the potential for Japan to engage in more international affairs and gain global recognition in the future.
Third, it intended to introduce a wedge to disrupt the regional dynamics by intervening in regional affairs. In recent years, Japan has repeatedly followed the US to meddle in regional affairs and constantly sought to assert influence on regional issues. It has also endeavored to elevate the maritime combat capabilities of some countries by gifting military equipment and instigated Southeast Asian countries to play a role in its so-called "free and open Indo-Pacific" strategy on many occasions. During the exhibition, senior officials of the JMOD also conferred with top military brass of the Philippines and other countries to pursue expanded defense partnership, in an attempt to further stir up regional affairs and secure a lasting military presence.
