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Japan, Turkey considering joint defense equipment development
November 12, 2013THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Japan and Turkey are considering teaming up on a development project involving defense equipment.
The project represents another example of the increasingly close relations between Japan and Turkey under the Abe administration.
Sources said the project being considered would involve a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and a Turkish company to manufacture engines for tanks to be used by the Turkish army.
"(Joint development of defense equipment) is one issue that will be discussed within the relationship between Japan and Turkey," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said at a Nov. 12 news conference.
Discussions between the two nations will begin once confirmation is made that the plan would not violate Japan's three principles related to the export of weapons.
Under a 2011 relaxation of those principles, joint development with nations other than the United States became possible. Japan has already reached agreements with Britain and France for the joint development of defense equipment.
An important factor for joint development is the creation of a framework that would prevent the use of the equipment for objectives other than what it was initially meant for and the transfer of that equipment to a third nation.
Onodera indicated that consideration would have to be given to determine if the joint development with Turkey would fall under the exceptions made for the export of weapons.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited Turkey twice over the past six months to meet with counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Those talks have led to an agreement to export nuclear plant technology to Turkey as well as to further deepen dialogue in the national security sector.
Japan, Turkey considering joint defense equipment development - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
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