The Korea Times
Japan’s decision to lift decadeslong restrictions on arms exports is expected to intensify competition with Korea, particularly in the global naval shipbuilding industry, experts and industry officials said Monday. The move marks a significant policy shift, coming more than six decades after Tokyo imposed strict limits on overseas weapons sales following its World War II defeat in 1945. Defense experts said Japanese shipbuilders are poised to emerge as formidable contenders against Korean counterparts such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, both of which must brace for tougher competition in overseas naval contracts. “In Southeast Asia, Japan is widely regarded as a more reliable partner than Korea due to the former’s long-standing engagement through official development assistance, which could translate into stronger naval export opportunities,” said Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Yang added that Japan’s recent successful bid for Australia’s next-generation multirole frigate program underscores its enduring competitiveness
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